Loyola Marymount University’s African American Alumni Association (AAAA) announced a new campaign goal of $500,000 earlier this year. The new goal was established in light of the extension of LMU’s overall campaign, “Right Place. Right Time. The Campaign for LMU.”

“We are looking forward to exceeding our new challenge,” said Ramona Wright ’00, assistant director of alumni relations and AAAA liaison. “Every gift makes a lasting legacy in a student’s life.”

Priorities for the new campaign include maintaining and increasing annual and matching gifts, cultivating major gifts, soliciting corporate and foundation support, and continuing to create and maintain relationships with alumni and friends.

“Everybody is encouraged to give, at any level, during this campaign,” Wright said. “It’s not about one person, it’s about the power of a unified and committed community.”

LMU has approximately 2,000 African American alumni. Sixty-five percent have graduated since 1980 and approximately 29 percent have made contributions to the university.  The association has awarded more than $150,000 to more than 100 students since the inception of the scholarship fund.

“We have a phenomenal new goal but our constant challenge is to think bigger, bolder and broader since the majority of our alumni are yet recent graduates, mid-career professionals, and may have young families.” Wright said.

The African American Alumni Association was started in 2003 by a group of LMU alumni, faculty and staff. Its purpose is to help raise scholarship funds for students, create support programs that enhance the educational experience for students from the African Diaspora, and provide a welcoming environment for African American Alumni to network and stay connected with each other and the university.

“The African American Alumni Association grew out of a desire to look into LMU’s past to know who came before us,” Wright said. “We want promote and celebrate the legacy of all LMU’s African American alumni who paved the way for us, and for our current and future students.”

The 6th Annual African American Alumni Association Scholarship Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 29, at 5 p.m. For more information, click here.