Day of Giving Causes Celebration

March 16^th began with a beautiful sunrise at the Alumni Center. The third annual Day of Giving had arrived. All was prepared for Facebook LIVE reports, interviews, guests, meals, and methods for giving, as we desired to reach the goal of the day. 

Volunteers arrived and were eager to begin their assigned tasks. Michael Mortensen ug91, Director of Alumni and Friend Relations, opened the day with prayer, as alumni joined us online and in person. 

While the connections with our alumni are always special, a highlight was the Facebook LIVE interviews that Michael and Char (Miller) Binkley g64 conducted. Dr. Daryl Yost h96, Steve Morley g65, Ron Scharfe, Donovan Coley g85, Bill Gerig g61, Dick Baxter g70, Melissa Dessaigne, The Summit’s executive director, Tondra Call g01, Barb Coon g67, Sonja Strahm ug67 and Dr. Wes Gerig g51 all joined us in person or virtually. These interviews received over 3,500 hits on Facebook, where alumni posted comments. What a wonderful positive use of today’s technology!

Throughout the day, Stephanie (Cox) Demorest g93, office manager, kept the tote board and incoming communications flowing.

The Alumni Center literally buzzed with conversation as alumni volunteers got reacquainted with each other and alumni stopped in to visit. Those from the 60’s decade met alumni from more recent years. What a joy to connect or reconnect. Laughter rang throughout the Center as stories from one decade to another were shared! Wonderful Grace of Jesus was mentioned as a favorite chapel song, and we agreed that singing together in chapel was definitely one of our best college experiences.

“The day is always incredibly fun as alumni from different decades get acquainted with those they never knew while on campus,” Char said. “Some reconnect after many years telling lots of stories and memories, which garners laughter as volunteers have time to share with each other.”

As of Monday, March 19, 145 donors have given or pledged a total of $30,871. This total will continue to grow as additional incoming gifts and pledges are added.

The Decade Challenge provided competitive fun with the 60’s decade taking the lead by the end of Day of Giving.

“We are getting closer to our $35,000 goal for cash and pledges for the Day of Giving, which makes up nearly half of our annual budget,” Michael explained. “If you haven’t given toward the $35,000 goal, we invite you participate with either a pledge or gift.” Since the Fort Wayne Alumni Center is self-funded, monies raised go directly to support your Alumni Center as we continue our mission of caring, connecting, and celebrating alumni of the Fort Wayne campus for the glory of God.

Yes, it definitely was the Wonderful Grace of Jesus that touched all of our lives throughout the decades on the Fort Wayne campus.

Click below one of the images to watch interviews and see pictures, to give a gift or to make a pledge towards our goal of $35,000 for our 3rd Annual Day of Giving.