Student callers raise more than $300,000 for Phonathon

May 4, 2007

During the 2006-2007 Phonathon, a team of 25 student callers raised $313,597 in pledges for the Georgia Southern University Annual Fund. This year’s total is the largest amount raised in the history of Phonathon, which has been taking place since 1981. This energetic group met and exceeded its original goal of $300,000.

‘Working with student callers is both a challenge and a pleasure,” said Gloria Morgan, the Georgia Southern alumna who directs Phonathon. ‘Our students contacted 35,000 alumni and parents this year, and they really worked hard to meet their goal. In addition to helping their alma mater, they gained valuable sales and fundraising experience.”

The annual Phonathon is Georgia Southern’s largest source of unrestricted funds. In 2002 the calling process was automated, so instead of working at banks of phones, students work at individual computers with headsets, making calls and recording results.

For many alumni, a Phonathon call is the only interpersonal contact they have with the university. Student callers are always happy to discuss new developments, answer questions about the university, and update contact information. In making their request for a gift, the student caller act as both a representative and a fundraiser for the Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc.

Each year’s Phonathon team has raised at least $200,000 for the Foundation since 1997, and this year’s effort is the most successful yet. Money raised for the Annual Fund is used to support initiatives on campus not covered by state money, tuition, and fees, such as the Georgia Southern University Museum, cultural outreach programs and library resource materials.

Phonathon is an excellent opportunity for students to earn money, help Georgia Southern and gain valuable sales and fund raising experience. This year, four callers raised $25,000 or more: Anatoshia Wyatt ($35,540); Joni Deans ($33,767); Joseph Ogunsulire ($30,906); and Kyle Boyer ($25,795).

For more information about Georgia Southern University’s Phonathon, or to consider working as a student caller, contact Gloria Morgan at 912-681-5680 or at annualfund@georgiasouthern.edu.