Knox Alumni Meet the Challenge

In a year of financial upheaval and uncertainty, more Knox alumni gave to their alma mater than in any other year of the College's 172-year history. At the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009), 5,523 alumni gave to Knox -- a more than 10 percent increase over last fiscal year -- setting a College record for number of alumni donors and raising Knox's alumni giving percentage rate from 33 to 36 percent.

"A 10 percent increase in alumni donors during the worst recession in recent memory is remarkable," said President Roger Taylor '63. "The generosity of Knox's alumni and friends is a resounding vote of confidence in the quality and importance of a Knox education."

Many factors contributed to the increase in donors, including a challenge from Trustee Duke Petrovich '74 and his wife, Nancy, who agreed to give Knox $100,000 if 5,000 alumni contributed to the College by June 30, 2009. Alumni gave in record numbers and more than met the Petrovich's challenge. Of the College's 86 graduating classes, 32 percent have alumni participation rates of 40 percent or more; 10 percent have participation rates over 50 percent. All graduating classes since 2000 are at or above 30 percent participation, and the 2009 Senior Challenge raised $10,000 from 90 percent of the 2009 graduating class.

Adding to Knox's record-breaking alumni giving numbers were 55 students, who participated in the 2008-09 Knox Fund phonathon, calling more than 5,000 alumni and friends and raising more than $435,000. Alumni themselves helped Knox achieve outstanding results, encouraging fellow alumni to give through calls, e-mails, and posts on Facebook.

"The alumni response to the Petrovich's challenge was better than we ever imagined it would be. One alumnus made 100 phone calls to friends and classmates encouraging them to give, and we quickly learned how influential Facebook has become -- messages posted on Knox's page quickly spread throughout our alumni community," said Beverly Holmes, vice president for Advancement.

Knox raised $3.2 million in annual operating gifts, money that will be put to immediate use supporting Knox's budget, and $6 million in total gifts.

Read in their own words why alumni give to Knox.

Watch what members of the Knox community say when asked where they went to college.