Stevens set to run its first-ever Student Philanthropy Week

The Office of Alumni Engagement, in conjunction with the Senior Class Gift Committee, is spearheading a new initiative: Student Philanthropy Week.

Student Philanthropy Week will take place Tuesday, April 17 through Thursday, April 19. The associated events throughout those days will serve to convey the importance of giving back to one’s alma mater and encourage student involvement with the Stevens Alumni Association (SAA), a network of more than 40,000 alumni living across the country and around the world that all students are automatically enrolled in after graduation.

As described by Melissa Fuest, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving and Executive Director of the Stevens Alumni Association, “Stevens began its illustrious history with a gift from Edwin A. Stevens, and Student Philanthropy Week is an opportunity for students both to learn about and to celebrate this 148-year-old tradition of giving back. The generosity of alumni and friends of Stevens is what ensures that current and future students have access to scholarships, exceptional faculty, and world-class facilities.”

Fuest expressed that getting in the habit of giving back as undergraduate students is important and beneficial since donating helps increase the prestige of a Stevens degree. U.S. News and World Report ranks colleges and universities across the country, and one of the key metrics used in these rankings is the rate of alumni who make a philanthropic gift each and every year at any level — from five dollars to five million dollars.

Student Philanthropy Week will kick off with “Get the Scoop on Philanthropy” on Tuesday, April 17, on Palmer Lawn (or Babbio Atrium in case of rain) from 4 to 5:30 pm. This event will have free ice cream served by campus leaders, such as President Nariman Farvardin and Provost Christophe Pierre, as well as members of the Development and Alumni Engagement staff. Then on Wednesday, April 18, from 12 to 4 p.m. outside of Pierce Dining Hall, and Thursday, April 19, from 9:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. in Babbio Atrium, representatives from the Alumni Engagement team and members of the Senior Class Gift Committee will be hosting a table. Outside Pierce, there will be a free photo booth, the sock and senior T-shirt fundraiser, thank you card signing for a raffle entry of prizes, and sign-ups for the 2018-2019 Student Philanthropy Committee. 

Student Philanthropy Week will be the first one at Stevens, and the Office of Alumni Engagement hopes that it will inform the undergraduate student body about the SAA. Students that wish to become active in the SAA can stay informed about the latest news and research taking place on campus, attend events and volunteering initiatives, and invest in the community by making an annual gift. For students who wish to donate, there are currently two gifts being offered: a student-designed T-shirt to commemorate the Class of 2018 for an $8 donation, or a pair of Stevens athletic socks for a $12 donation. The Office of Alumni Engagement also hopes that these events will pique students’ interest in joining the Student Philanthropy Committee for the 2018-2019 academic year. Students on this committee will organize fundraising and volunteering events with alumni and current students that will help shape the future of Stevens.