RELEASED: June 16, 2005

(To make a gift, visit http://gifts.centre.edu/ or call toll-free 877-678-9822.)

DANVILLE, KY—This is it. It’s absolutely, positively the last week. The deadline is Thursday, June 30, meaning there are only seven days for Centre College to reclaim the top spot in alumni-giving percentage.

“In the race to see which college will claim the distinction of being No. 1 in the nation in alumni-giving percentage in 2004-05, we’re rapidly approaching the wire,” says Richard Trollinger, vice president for college relations. “To our dismay, we still have more than 1,000 alumni who made a gift last year but who have yet to contribute this year! Many of these folks have every intention of giving and will be greatly disappointed if they aren’t listed in this year’s donor report, but they need a timely call to spur them to action. If we can get a majority of them to make a gift, chances are very good that Centre will remain No. 1.”

Accordingly, Trollinger says, “We’ll be calling Monday through Thursday nights this week and next week to remind these folks that June 30—the last day of the fiscal year and hence the last day to make a gift for 2004-05—is fast approaching.”

“Last year we received over 700 alumni gifts in the month of June, which put us over the top,” says Jamey Elliott, director of annual giving. “We need another tremendous response from our alumni in thelast few weeks of the annual-giving year if we’re to hang on to No. 1. Every gift makes a difference.”

The alumni office estimates that if the College had received 40 fewer gifts last year, Centre would not have reclaimed the No. 1 spot. Centre competes with schools such as Amherst, Carleton, Davidson, Princeton and Williams for the top spot. With three weeks to go in the annual-giving year, Centre is neck and neck with all of these institutions.

“We need a great response from alumni in order to provide as much support to our students and faculty as we possibly can,” adds Elliott. “The College is bringing in the largest, and one of the strongest, freshman classes in its history. All undesignated gifts will support scholarships for these students.

“To be able to say we have ‘the most loyal alumni’ in the country helps us get our foot in the door with foundations and corporations, and it brings added prestige to the College,” Elliott says. “But the truly important thing about being No. 1 is that it means that thousands of alumni have done what they can to make a difference for Centre students and faculty.”

To make a gift, visit http://gifts.centre.edu (be sure to watch the wonderful video at http://www.centre.edu/web/alumni/centre_gift.html) or call toll-free 877-678-9822.

Remember, the deadline is June 30.

- end -

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.

Back to News and Events Home Page