The University of the Virgin Islands family joins forces with alumni and special alumni from Sept. 28 to 30, for the 2015 Alumni Phonathon. Each evening of the Phonathon, UVI administrators, staff, alumni and student volunteers will gather - from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. - in the Eastern Caribbean Center calling center to telephone more than 8,000 UVI alumni in the territory and abroad. Alumni will get the opportunity to update their contact information and will be asked to once again give their financial support to their alma mater. Contributions in any amount will be directed to UVI scholarships, the University in general, UVI’s school and colleges or special programs at the University.
Next week’s Phonathon continues the University’s successful and historic efforts to reach alumni giving rates among the highest in the nation. The push, which began in 2012, reached the 52.49 percent level in fiscal year 2013-2014, a record for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
This year’s Phonathon, dubbed the UVI “‘First to 50’ Champions: Back in the Winners Circle!,” is on its way to achieving another national historic goal of 50 percent.
“We ask UVI alumni and friends to once again accept the challenge and be a part of history,” said UVI Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs Linda I. Smith. “We need your help to make this goal, this dream, a reality. Giving a gift as small as $10 to support students is one of the greatest ways of giving back.”
As an added feature, the School of Nursing, which celebrated under the theme “Celebrating 50 Years of Nursing Education at CVI/UVI,” has dedicated a team of nursing alums, who will be placing calls to over 750 UVI and College of the Virgin Islands (CVI) nursing alumni, to bolster the nursing scholarship dedicated to the school’s current and prospective students.
This is the final year of the institution’s “First to 50” challenge, which has garnered national awards and recognition amongst HBCUs and prestigious institutions across the nation, Smith said. “Over the past three years, our valued alumni have supported the challenge and this year we are excited about the hard work and dedication displayed by our students and members of the UVI family who support this annual event,” she said.
Dinner, as well as a $25 stipend, is provided nightly for each volunteer. Prizes will also be awarded to all volunteers and to top donors. Volunteers can participate for one night or all three. The Alumni Phonathon is the University’s primary vehicle for communicating with alumni and friends.
For information email UVI Alumni Coordinator, Chawnique Schjang at uvialumniaffairs@uvi.edu.