NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifeService
SOAR: Students Volunteer for Annual Fund
Oct 1, 1999 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
SOAR, Students Organized to Assist Raising (funds), is gaining popularity among students. During the kickoff meeting, Sunday, Sept. 12, seven students joined the fundraising efforts, in which they assist the development office in raising money for Darlington’s Annual Fund.
SOAR students meet approximately two evenings per month throughout the academic year. Their work mainly consists of taking part in phonathons, in which students contact Darlington constituents to solicit an annual gift.
This year, in addition to phoning, students are being encouraged to come up with new ideas for raising money.
“We want to involve the kids more in the office on a day-to-day basis,” Ben Hoke, assistant director of annual support, said.
“As the momentum towards allowing students more school ownership increases, as Darlington’s Goals 2000 calls for, so too will their role in the fundraising process,” Hoke continued. “It gives them a good look at how the school works.
“We are trying to include them in a variety of different fundraising activities,” Hoke said. “We’ve already had a group in here to try to update the class of 1990 address database.”
While all of Darlington reaps benefits from the Annual Fund, student volunteers gain valuable communication skills, make new friends, and learn about the structure of the school.
Sophomore Lily Ingram learned about SOAR through fliers posted on campus and decided to volunteer as a way to have fun and meet people.
“I helped with a campaign in Birmingham two summers ago and I have a lot of experience with calling people,” she said. “I thought I could put that to use. On top of that, my old school never involved the students with fundraising and I think that helping out your school is a great thing to do,” Lily said. “Also, it looks great on your college application.”
Although students do benefit by volunteering, camaraderie and fun seem to be the key.
“There are many reasons I volunteer for SOAR, the most important probably being the staff that work in the office,” junior Jennifer Sutch said. “They are always so nice that I try to do what I can to help them. SOAR is also a lot of fun. We have a great time calling and talking to alumni.”
Students working with SOAR this year are sophomores Lily Ingram, Tara Nixon, and Carrie Ann Willis; juniors Hall Penn, Amelia Ross, Brian Harrison, Brad Camp, Jennifer Sutch, Mary Binns, Rory Laven, Jessica Tarpley, Michelle Ward, and Elizabeth Logsdon; and senior Liz Levy.
The Annual Fund comprises hundreds of unrestricted gifts to the school on an annual basis. Gifts come from Darlington alumni, parents, and friends. These funds go directly into the school’s operating budget. Annual fund dollars hold down the cost of tuition by increasing financial aid, raising faculty salaries, and providing items such as state-of-the-art computers. The Annual Fund regularly totals over $1 million, and is ranked ninth in the nation among day and day-boarding schools.
SOAR students meet approximately two evenings per month throughout the academic year. Their work mainly consists of taking part in phonathons, in which students contact Darlington constituents to solicit an annual gift.
This year, in addition to phoning, students are being encouraged to come up with new ideas for raising money.
“We want to involve the kids more in the office on a day-to-day basis,” Ben Hoke, assistant director of annual support, said.
“As the momentum towards allowing students more school ownership increases, as Darlington’s Goals 2000 calls for, so too will their role in the fundraising process,” Hoke continued. “It gives them a good look at how the school works.
“We are trying to include them in a variety of different fundraising activities,” Hoke said. “We’ve already had a group in here to try to update the class of 1990 address database.”
While all of Darlington reaps benefits from the Annual Fund, student volunteers gain valuable communication skills, make new friends, and learn about the structure of the school.
Sophomore Lily Ingram learned about SOAR through fliers posted on campus and decided to volunteer as a way to have fun and meet people.
“I helped with a campaign in Birmingham two summers ago and I have a lot of experience with calling people,” she said. “I thought I could put that to use. On top of that, my old school never involved the students with fundraising and I think that helping out your school is a great thing to do,” Lily said. “Also, it looks great on your college application.”
Although students do benefit by volunteering, camaraderie and fun seem to be the key.
“There are many reasons I volunteer for SOAR, the most important probably being the staff that work in the office,” junior Jennifer Sutch said. “They are always so nice that I try to do what I can to help them. SOAR is also a lot of fun. We have a great time calling and talking to alumni.”
Students working with SOAR this year are sophomores Lily Ingram, Tara Nixon, and Carrie Ann Willis; juniors Hall Penn, Amelia Ross, Brian Harrison, Brad Camp, Jennifer Sutch, Mary Binns, Rory Laven, Jessica Tarpley, Michelle Ward, and Elizabeth Logsdon; and senior Liz Levy.
The Annual Fund comprises hundreds of unrestricted gifts to the school on an annual basis. Gifts come from Darlington alumni, parents, and friends. These funds go directly into the school’s operating budget. Annual fund dollars hold down the cost of tuition by increasing financial aid, raising faculty salaries, and providing items such as state-of-the-art computers. The Annual Fund regularly totals over $1 million, and is ranked ninth in the nation among day and day-boarding schools.
