(Beaver Falls, PA) –Two Geneva Trustees, Bill and John Edgar, have offered to match senior class contributions to the Geneva Fund if more than 50 gifts are given.
Traditionally, members of the senior class give a monetary gift to the Geneva Fund to support future students and as a way to express gratitude for the transformative education they received by paying it forward so that students for years to come can continue to have the same kind of Geneva experience. This year’s suggested gift is $20.17 to commemorate the 2017 graduating class.
The Edgar brothers are generously stepping forward with matching funds to increase the impact of this year’s senior class giving. When a threshold of 50 seniors give a gift, the match begins dollar for dollar and is retroactive to all gifts. The ratio of the match increases to 2:1 if at least 75 seniors give and 3:1 if 100 seniors participate. If more than 125 gifts are given, the Edgars will match all funds 4:1. Bill Edgar served as Geneva’s Interim President in 2015-16.
According to Jolynn Frey, Director of Advancement for the Institutional Advancement (IA) Office, “When Geneva approaches foundations for grants, one of the ways that they evaluate the applications is by alumni giving percentage.”
Frey stresses the importance of philanthropy and its impact on an institution like Geneva, explaining that all funds contributed help offset the operating budget to cover the costs of academic programs, scholarships, Quest trips, student success programs, residence life, student activities, athletics, The Genevans, band and more.
“The leadership of the college wants to use the senior class gift as a means of spreading the word about the good that has been done on behalf of present students by generous donors,” she says.
The number of senior class givers nearly doubled between 2014 and 2015 increasing from 44 donors to 81. Frey notes, “These gifts make Geneva stronger and increase the value of alumni degrees. US News and World Report looks at alumni giving percentage when determining rankings. When alumni give back, it makes Geneva better and stronger.”
Each senior who contributes at least $20.17 to the fund will receive a philanthropy cord to wear at commencement, signifying not only their contribution, but their pride and gratitude for their Geneva experience.
Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 40 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and classroom options, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva’s programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today’s world.
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