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| Alumni, friends continue generous support via Telefund March 26, 2007
The generosity of UW-Eau Claire alumni and friends is keeping the 2006-07 Telefund drive on track to continue its four-year trend of raising more than $500,000 annually in gifts and pledges. The success was celebrated at a recent lunch hosted by Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich for five student Telefund callers who have raised the most pledge dollars for the current Telefund drive. Thirty-five UW-Eau Claire student callers contact university alumni and friends to update them on the latest news from campus and invite them to support the people and programs at UW-Eau Claire. "These dedicated students represent the entire student body," said Levin-Stankevich. "They deliver the important message that alumni make a crucial difference in supporting the excellence at UW-Eau Claire, especially in the current state fiscal climate." The Telefund drive has been held every semester for the past 28 years. Money raised through Telefund is used by the Foundation to support student scholarships, student/faculty research projects, faculty development initiatives, international study opportunities and other special projects that enhance teaching and learning at the university. Student callers will attempt to reach more than 70,000 alumni and friends between September 2006 and May 2007. More than 100 students each year interview for the 35 caller positions. "I like working in the call center because it's a unique opportunity to directly benefit UW-Eau Claire," said Dan Smith, a UW-Eau Claire junior. "There is no doubt that the work is integral to the university's commitment to excellence, not only because of the monetary gain, but because of the personal and ongoing contact between current students and alumni." The spring 2007 Telefund drive total includes a matching grant from UW-Eau Claire alumnus Joe Romano. The match from Romano, who graduated in 1975, helps increase the average pledge and encourages new donor pledges. Romano's matching gift and all donations to the Telefund drive are recognized as contributions to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation''s Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign, an ongoing effort to benefit UW-Eau Claire's people and programs.
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