This Giving Tuesday, more than 502 donors raised $126,593 to support three initiatives committed to serving the community through education, access, and inclusion –the Meelia Center’s Access Academy, the Ernie Thorne ’34 Scholarship Fund for Racial Equality, and the Campus Ministry’s Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. program.
“We are truly grateful for everyone who participated in making our sixth annual Giving Tuesday such an incredible success,” said James Flanagan, senior vice president and chief advancement officer. “Thank you to the alumni, faculty, staff, monastic community, students, trustees, family and friends who joined together to celebrate the many ways Saint Anselm College students support our community and the world around us.”
Giving Tuesday is a nationally recognized day of generosity held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving encouraging people to support philanthropic causes. This is the sixth year that Saint Anselm has participated in the Giving Tuesday movement, encouraging Anselmians, past and present, to collaborate and give back in impactful ways to the college.
Campus Ministry raised funds to support Anselmian B.R.E.A.K, where students learn how to serve their neighbors, put their faith into action, and expand their understanding of justice.
The Ernie Thorne ’34 Scholarship for Racial Equality, named for the College’s first Black graduate, aims to reduce barriers to an Anselmian education by making it more affordable to underrepresented students.
“This scholarship allows for underrepresented students with high promise and limited financial means to focus on education for the common good and their learning, rather than how they will pay for it,” explained Dr. Ande Diaz, Chief Diversity Officer. “This year we were able to award scholarship funds to two students.”
The Meelia Center’s Access Academy is a program for high school students in the Manchester area who are from backgrounds that are traditionally considered underrepresented in higher education. The students come onto campus, take a variety of classes with our college students, faculty, and staff, earn high school credit, and connect with college mentors.
Saint Anselm College would like to thank the generous donors who provided challenge gifts during the campaign: President Joseph Favazza and Dr. Paddy Favazza, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Maire Lynch ’13, and Shane Smith ’13 and Katharine (Meinertz) Smith ’14.
A special thank you to the Annual Giving team: Julie O’Connor, Shelagh Freda, Katie Amato ’14, and Audrey Gauss; the entire Advancement team; Kathryn O’Loughlin ’10 in Campus Ministry; Nicole Lora ’06 in the Meelia Center; Dr. Ande Diaz; and the College Communications and Marketing team.