Dear Friend of the Class of 1966,
Did you know that you can share your individual or family updates by posting them in the comments section below this letter? You may also share your updates by logging on to the Alumni Directory or emailing [email protected]. No matter the method you choose, everyone looks forward to reading about where your life has taken you, and the unique direction your path has gone.
Here on campus we are well into the Spring 2010 semester, and in a few short weeks, another class of seniors will graduate and become Luther alumni! In addition to their academics and co-curricular activities, seniors have been learning about the importance of charitable giving in their own lives, and about the many years of alumni gifts—your gifts to Luther—which enhanced their own educational experiences.
Students see the tangible results of your gifts to Luther
- the new entrance to campus with stonework and plantings
- new directional signage
- Sampson Hoffland Laboratories and newly renovated Valders Hall of Science
- new furniture in the library
- extensive upgrades to practice fields and ball diamonds
- a re-surfaced outdoor track
and the effects of the intangibles, such as scholarships, are felt by many.
Luther’s senior pledge campaign—Luther 10 (formerly known as Alumni Challenge)—gives senior students an opportunity to “pay it forward.” Luther 10 builds on the power of community and is coordinated by a committee of senior students who seek pledges from their classmates, which they don’t begin paying until a year after graduation. Each year seniors challenge themselves to outdo the previous class. Last year’s Class of 2009 reached 216 members of the class who pledged $26,951, with an average gift of $40 per year. The Class of 2010 is off to a great start with over 150 pledges so far, and an alumni couple has offered to match $20,000 of the total.
Thank you for your past gifts, which inspire our graduating seniors and programs like Luther 10! Your willingness to give back to Luther not only keeps this place vibrant and strong, it teaches our students about the importance of giving. If you have not yet made your gift to Luther this year, please send your gift in an envelope, or give online at givenow.luther.edu.
If you are interested in serving as class agent for your class, please contact me for information about the position.
Remember to mark your calendar for October 8-10, Homecoming 2010.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Sue (Franzen) Drilling ’78
Director of Special Programs
800.225.8664
[email protected]
PS. Thanks to the generous support of many alumni donors, Luther has benefited from the member-matching program—GivingPlus—with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Unfortunately, GivingPlus was eliminated by Thrivent at the end of 2009. The "replacement" program—Thrivent Choice—will include a component called Choice Dollars, which some members will be eligible for. Members eligible for Thrivent Choice can still choose to direct their charitable support to Luther (which will be greatly appreciated, thank you!). More information about the program (which is scheduled to begin sometime in April) is available at https://www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice/news/index.html.
