Students Pen Notes of Thanks to Donors

On Nov. 5, Fordham students making their way to club meetings, the cafeteria, or another destination at the McGinley Center stopped to write quick notes of gratitude to those alumni who’ve given back to Fordham.

The annual Thank-a-Thon, which was begun by the Office of Development and University Relations and is now in its third year, attracted students like Lexi McCauley, a sophomore at the Gabelli School of Business, who along with other students shared her thoughts on a note card that will be mailed to a contributor to the Fordham Fund.

The fund aims to raise $10 million of unrestricted support annually to provide students with scholarships, career services and improved facilities and technology.

“It’s really important because there are a lot of people that don’t have the opportunity financially to go to Fordham,” she said. “I’m grateful to be able to come here, and there are many others who are also grateful [and] need help financially.”

The Thank-a-Thon began as a way for students to express gratitude to those who helped make Fordham’s $540 million capital campaign Excelsior | Ever Upward | The Campaign for Fordham, a resounding success. This year’s event, which took place over four days at the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses, garnered 661 cards from students.  

Nick Monteleone, associate director of donor relations, who along with Kristina Dzwonczyk, director of donor relations, helped solicit the students, said the Thank-a-Thon was launched to highlight the importance of unrestricted annual support, and to give students a direct voice to the donors who have played such an important role in their educations. 

“The response we’ve had from the student body over the past three years has been wonderful,” he said. 

“They’re eager to stop, to say ‘thank you,’ to share their gratitude, and often, their personal stories through a note for our Fordham Fund donors.”

Martine De Matteo, a freshman at Fordham College at Rose Hill, echoed the sentiment.

“I really appreciate all the help we can get for the ‘Ramily,’” she said.

—Patrick Verel