2008 Senior Class Gift Challenges All Alummi

It didn’t take the Class of 2008 long to make its first record-setting mark on LMU’s history. In fact, the newest alumni made three, says Rebecca Cunningham, assistant director of Annual Giving. Their generosity stands as an example for all of LMU’s alumni.

Students Take The Lead
For starters, more members of the 2008 Lions — 380 — contributed to the Senior Class Gift than any previous class. They also gave more than any previous class, $14,057. And, a larger percentage of the class — 35.4 percent — contributed to the class gift than their older peers did as seniors. That’s a stunning participation rate.
    Cunningham says the participation of so many members of the senior class is inspiring. But she isn’t completely surprised. Young people today clearly have an interest in philanthropy and a passion for causes, she said, and the 2008 graduates prove it.
    “Here are students — many of whom didn’t even have jobs yet and knew they would graduate in a tough economy — who gave to LMU because of their experience here as students,” she says.

Follow the '08 Go-Getters
Jaclyn Jimenez ’08, a co-chair of the Senior Class Gift Committee, explains the success. “Our class was made up of go-getters,” she says. “We wanted to get involved in as much as possible and do as much as possible. So our goal on the committee was to ask the seniors, ‘What are you going to give back to future students, so they can have the same opportunities you did?’”
    Cunningham sees the generosity of the Class of 2008 as especially hopeful. If the youngest alumni are getting in the habit of giving back to LMU, that’s a sign of a bright future, she says.