York Students raised almost £15,000 in the first of a five-week fundraising campaign for the York Annual Fund.
The cash has been raised through hundreds of calls to York alumni and is vital for both students and societies of the university. The students are working evening shifts at the Ron Cooke Hub.
Hilary Blake, Annual Fund Officer, explained that “the student callers have great conversations with hundreds of fascinating graduates, finding out their career paths and the difference that York made to their lives. We ask graduates to make a regular gift to the York Annual Fund, and many respond very positively.”
Blake continued: “We’ve recently helped the Boat Club with £10,000 towards a new racing eight, Kids’ Camp with £8,000 towards running costs and URY with £3,000 towards a new broadcast desk.”
According to Lara Wainwright, student caller and member of the boat club, the funds raised are vital for York: “Without the Annual Fund, the University of York Boat Club would be pacing in the shadows of wealthier boat clubs from older institutions.
“With the ongoing financial support from our alumni, the Women’s Squad have achieved top-10 status in the academic VIIIs at Women’s Henley, and the Men’s Squad qualified for the world-renowned Henley Royal Regatta in a boat donated by the Annual Fund only a year before. Each year this support has propelled UYBC to a level in national competition that simply would not have been viable had we gone without.
“Since the Annual Fund was formed in 1998, York alumni have donated almost £1.5 million to the University. As well as supporting York’s societies and community projects, the fund has been a direct source of financial assistance to students.
Blake commented: “the Fund provides bursaries to help students who are struggling financially, and Masters Scholarships to enable the brightest students to stay on at York. This financial support will only become more important as government financial support for higher education decreases.”
YUSU President Tim Ngwena told Vision that the fund “remains York Sports’ biggest sponsor in the academic year and continues to donate thousands to societies for a range of projects ranging from small spend to large capital outlay for strategic projects.”