Senior fundraising well ahead of the pack

The senior class is distinguishing itself as a serious monetary powerhouse on campus.

With graduation still months away, the senior class gift drive has already broken the record for fundraising with $59,302.

This class also already boasts the highest number of Benjamin Franklin Society donors - students who give $250 or more.

But even though the Class of 2007 has already set tbhe new fundraising record - the Class of 2005 held the previous record, with $57,000 - the goal is not to raise the most money.

"It's a much bigger victory if we could get more people than more money," said Wharton senior Healey Cypher, who is one of the gift drive's chairmen.

He added that the class' goal is 1,400 donors. There are currently 749 donors, while the Class of 2006 holds the record of 1,450.

Last year's class reached the 60-percent participation rate, and Committee Adviser Meredith Seidel, the assistant director of Student Advancement for the Penn Fund, said that this class is expected to reach or even exceed that.

Healey - along with Gift Drive co-chairwomen Engineering senior Shannon Hedvat and College senior Jenna Moss -- began working with the Penn Fund at the end of last year to start the "Put it in Drive" marketing campaign, designed to raise money for the gift drive.

Moss, who designed the logo and T-shirt for the campaign, said the loud neon-green logo and barbecue that seniors threw at the beginning of the year are likely sources of their success so far.

The committee also launched a YouTube.com video online earlier this year and has been tabling at many FebClub events.

Seidel also cited the committee's outreach to student clubs as a major factor in the success.

"The 2007 committee has already managed to have over 15 clubs unite behind the gift drive with 100-percent participation," with 45 more on the way, Seidel said. "This is the first time a committee has achieved so much unity behind Penn so early in the year."

At the end of the year, the class' total donation will be divided up into four areas: 51 percent to financial aid, 24 percent to residential living, 16 percent to the Student Activities Committee and 9 percent to Special Initiatives, which includes efforts like the Penn Reading Project and keeping technology up to par.

Seidel said Penn alumni donation participation hovers around 30 percent. Others peer institutions - like Princeton University, with about 60 percent - boast significantly higher figures.

She pointed out that recent studies have shown that, the more seniors are encouraged to give during their final year at Penn, the more they will donate during their first two years as alumni.

"The enthusiasm shown by this year's seniors has truly been unprecedented, and we hope to increase participation even more in the coming months," said Wharton senior and class president Andrew Kaplan.

Seniors can donate online at Seniorgiftdrive.com.

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