Every Student Counts: Senior Gift Drive Sets Record

May 16, 2009

Amy Gutmann had an interesting challenge for the Class of 2009: she would contribute one dollar for every senior who made a gift to the Unite ONine Campaign.

Unite ONine seniors with President Gutmann at the President's "Sunset Luau" Party. From left: William Heyer, Mike Paolini, Jess Staller, Amy Gutmann, Brett Perlmutter, Dustin Blank.

That’s one matching dollar for every senior, not dollar.

This week, with one month of their campaign left to go, the senior class met that challenge with record-breaking numbers: 1610 seniors donated -- a total that surpasses all previous senior classes.

As part of Penn's tradition of senior gift drives (now called Seniors for The Penn Fund), this year's Unite ONine campaign aims to teach students about giving back to the University and the importance of continued giving, in recognition of the support they have received from the many alumni and friends of Penn that came before them.

Addressing an auditorium of alumni this Alumni Weekend, Amy Gutmann drove the lesson home.

"Keeping Penn affordable allows us to educate the most talented students from all backgrounds," she told the crowd. "It's one of our highest priorities. We've increased our financial aid budget by 52 percent since 2004, we're replacing loans with grants for all undergraduates beginning this September, and students from families with incomes less than $90,000 will pay no tuition and fees. As a result of this commitment, every entering class from 2005 onward has been ever more accomplished and diverse, winning highly sought prizes -- including Rhodes, Gates, and Fulbright scholarships."

     > Gutmann's address on YouTube

"These exceptional students go on to become leaders," she continued, "solving the most challenging problems and improving the world in bolder, more unpredictable ways than ever before. And this is all made possible by the support and the participation of you -- the alumni who came before them."

As the proud Unite ONine seniors join their graduating class on Commencement Day this Monday, they prove that giving isn't just about giving back, but giving forward.

And what counts -- especially for Gutmann's matching dollars -- is not so much dollars, but students.

 

 

 

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