UPDATED: March 7, 2011

For every senior who gives at least $20.11 toward the 2011 Senior Class Giving Campaign before commencement, an additional $100 will be given to Syracuse University.

The purpose of the senior class gift is to give back to SU because the university played a significant role in students’ lives for four years, said Beth Anne Kieft, a chair of the campaign. Students, family and friends can donate to anything affiliated with SU, from organizations to programs like SU Abroad to colleges.

The additional $100 donation will come from Deryck Palmer, a 1978 alumnus, member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees and SU parent. The extra $100 will go toward the university’s unrestricted funds, as well as to each senior’s gift as part of the Palmer Senior Class Gift Challenge — making all gifts of at least $20.11 worth at least $120.11.

Palmer will contribute up to $25,000, said Kristen Duggleby, assistant director of development of annual giving. This means he will give $100 each for the first 250 seniors who donate at least $20.11.

As of March 2, 42 gifts have been given to the campaign, 32 of which are from students in the senior class, according to the SU Giving website. A total of $1,200 was raised, but because the Palmer Challenge is in effect, the total increased to $4,400, Duggleby said.

So far, gifts have been donated to colleges across campus, the annual fund, the Renee Crown University Honors Program, the Remembrance Scholarship fund, Hendricks Chapel and more, according to the SU Giving website.

Last year, the Senior Class Giving Campaign for the Class of 2010 received a total of 150 gifts, 120 of which were given by students of the senior class by June 30. The campaign surpassed its goal of $10,000 by raising $11,845, according to the website.

‘Our goal is definitely to pass what last year’s class did,’ said Kieft, a chair of the campaign. ‘We’d like to meet at least what they got but definitely surpass how many gifts have been given.’

To reach out to more students of the senior class, the Senior Class Giving Campaign launched at Orange Central in October 2010. The goal was to raise money throughout the entire year rather than just during the spring semester, as both the Classes of 2009 and 2010 did, Kieft said.

Seniors are encouraged to give at least $20.11 because they are the Class of 2011, but there is no required amount, Kieft said. 

‘If they want to give less, if they want to give more, we’re not picky if people want to give back,’ she said.

Many seniors think giving $20.11 doesn’t go far, but a gift is meant to start small, said Jon Barnhart, a chair of the campaign. 

‘You give what you can, when you can,’ he said. ‘We hope that in the future, students will continue to give back to the things that they love about Syracuse.’ 

The Senior Class Giving Campaign Committee is in charge of coming up with different events to promote the campaign to get students interested in giving back to SU, Kieft said. The committee focuses on promoting at events seniors will attend.

Seniors can give gifts at the class marshal luncheon, during cap and gown distribution or at the senior barbecue in May. Students can give gifts online, by phone or in person.

Said Barnhart: ‘It’s kind of like leaving your own legacy.’ 

[email protected]

Published on March 3, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Laurence: [email protected] | @lgleveille