Development Message - Summer 2002

What makes the greatest difference? It’s the choice to give. Your choice - not the amount, the direction of the gift, the term of the gift, or the type of gift - but just the choice to give back.

“I’ve thought about this a long time and I want to make a difference for some-one, because someone made a difference for me.” This is a common sentiment among donors to the UK College of Pharmacy.

Others have described their decision to become a donor as, “a gift of choice,” “a gift of love,” “a gift of thanks,” or “a gift of recognition.” These are your words. Our words in return are “thank you.”

For whatever reason you chose to give, because of this choice, the UK College of Pharmacy can continue to make a difference in the lives of others through education, clinical service and research.

UK Phonathon

In January 2002, UK Phonathon callers contacted 1,579 alumni and friends of the College and asked them to support the Dean’s Fund that allows our Dean the choice of allocating your dollars for a variety of College needs.

In response, more than 800 people - over 50 percent - supported the UK College of Pharmacy. We had $20 donors, $50 donors, $100 donors and several who gave more than $100 donations. In all, a new record for dollars was raised at a UK College of Pharmacy Phonathon with more than $52,000 donated.

New Goals

One of our fundraising goals this year is to persuade 10 new donors to commit to Fellowship status and allow us to pool the gifts to support research and instruction.

This involves a minimum commitment from each donor of $10,000 over time. Why have we set this goal? It’s simple. We can double or even triple the impact of your gifts. How? We pool the funds, allocate them for endowed research and instruction and secure a match from the Research Challenge Trust Fund (RCTF) also known as the Bucks for Brains program.

Therefore, your choice to become a College of Pharmacy/University Fellow, can result in an additional $100,000 to the College if pooled and matched. Not bad. Imagine what would happen if 20 donors committed to become a Fellow.

Making Your Choice

Financial supporters, venture capitalists, investors, and donors all have something in common. All give money to get something in return.

We know what the investors, financial supporters, and venture capitalists expect, but what do our donors expect? Why do you choose to give to your College?

This is a question I’ve asked many of you during the past year. Let me share what I’ve heard:

¨“I want to do this because the College made a difference in my life.”

¨“We’ve thought this through and my wife and I want to help the College to be the best. To do so, you have to have the best of everything -- the best students, the best instructors. It’s simple. We can help, so we do.”

¨“When I was at the College, someone loaned me $500. It kept me in school. I want to do something that will help a student, when it’s needed most, to help them stay in school.”

¨“It’s because of the faculty and the mentors that I had at the College that got me where I am today. I want to say thank you, to the College, and to the instructors.”

¨“It’s not much, but I wanted to give what I could. The folks at the College are great.”

Never have I heard, “I don’t have a choice.”

Each of you has a choice. Thank you again for making the UK College of Pharmacy one of your choices.

________________________________________________________________________________________
| College of Pharmacy |