Title:Senior Class Sets Giving Record for Second Year

More than 71 percent of the Class of 2013 made a gift to Georgetown, topping the Class of 2012’s record achievement last year and also setting a record for dollars raised.

In all, 1,202 seniors made a gift, for a total of $76,004.54—more than $7,000 above last year’s efforts. Because members of the Georgetown University Board of Regents had pledged to match seniors’ efforts by giving $1,000 for every percentage point of participation, the seniors raised an additional $71,000 for the university.

Senior Class Fund Co-Chairs Jessica Douglass (B’13) and Christina Dupre (F’13) presented a check for $147,004.54 to President John J. DeGioia during Senior Convocation. That amount is the equivalent of six scholarships that will be awarded to students next fall.

To reach their record numbers, the senior class fund committee held several awareness events beginning in September to emphasize the importance of giving back and of establishing a class legacy. “I know that a lot of seniors who might not have normally given were inspired to donate to a particular club or organization they were passionate about,” said Douglass.

She noted the importance of the regents’ match. “It played a large role in the success of our campaign. Whenever a senior would remark that they didn’t think their contribution could make a difference, we would remind them that, in fact, their gift could have a much larger impact on Georgetown than they anticipated because of the match.”

“I’d especially like to thank Alison Lohrfink Blood and Mary Poland, chair and vice chair of the Regents Stewardship Committee, for leading the Regents Challenge effort, with support from 83 regents,” said Jane Hopkins Carey (C’79), chair of the Board of Regents. “The Board of Regents, a university-wide board made up of alumni and parents dedicated to making Georgetown stronger through philanthropy, feels strongly that there is nothing more important for the regents than to encourage giving from our youngest alumni. They are Georgetown’s future, and we are so proud of the work of the senior class committee and the participation of an overwhelming majority of the class in the 2013 fund. The table has been set for the Class of 2014!”

Dupre said the Class of 2013 was “definitely throwing down the gauntlet” to the Class of 2014 to top its success next year. “Beating the Class of 2012’s record was one of our biggest motivating factors, and we hope there is the same incentive for the next class to beat our record!”

Support for undergraduate scholarships is the single largest priority, totaling $400 million, of Georgetown’s $1.5 billion capital campaign, For Generations to Come.