More than 100 seniors have already given to this year’s Senior Fund, but the largest donation will probably come from Columbia College Interim Dean James Valentini, who has agreed to donate over $4,000.
Valentini pledged to double the money seniors donated at the Senior Fund Kick-Off last month, which has put him on the hook for $4,068. Additionally, 35 seniors have signed on to participate in Valentini’s “3, 2, 1” fundraising challenge.
He said on Thursday that he does not regret making his matching pledge.
“It’s symbolic,” Valentini said. “It’s not the money, it’s not the amount, it’s the symbolism that we all owe something to the college—every last one of us, including the dean.”
Stephanie Foster, CC ’12 and co-chair of the Senior Fund, said she doesn’t think there’s another school “where a dean is so enthusiastic about a senior class giving back.”
“It is a bit symbolic that he is willing to take money out of his paycheck and out of his own pockets to give to the students he believes in,” she said.
Besides being the biggest donor, Valentini has impacted the Senior Fund with the fundraising challenge he first pitched in September.
Of the 105 seniors who have already donated to the Senior Fund, one-third have signed on to Valentini’s “3, 2, 1” challenge. The goal of the challenge is for students to donate to Columbia each of the three years after they graduate, and to convince two friends to donate as well. The “1” refers to older alumni who will match donations one-to-one.
Students signing up for the “3, 2, 1” challenge this year are required to donate at least $20.12 for each of the three years, a reference to their class year. Those who pay by credit card and agree to make their gift a recurring gift will be automatically charged the next two years unless they request that the charge be removed, Foster said.
She said that the “3, 2, 1” challenge reflects the Senior Fund organizers’ new mindset this year. Rather than focusing on reaching 95 percent participation among the senior class—and then watching as participation inevitably drops to as low as 10 percent the next year—their main goal is now to increase fundraising participation levels in the years after seniors graduate.
“After three years of consistent giving, people are more likely to continue to give,” she said.
As of Thursday, $9,167.21 had been raised for the Senior Fund, including Valentini’s gift. Valentini said his donation to the fund is representative of the way he interacts with students.
“When students ask me for something, I ask them to help, and when I ask you for something, I’m going to help,” he said. “So there’s a symmetry in that.”
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