Annual Fund Chair Emphasizes Collective Strength

The 2009 Annual Fund campaign is underway on campus with a familiar face as chair – Dr. Mary Hooper, assistant professor of Educational Leadership and Professional Studies.

Rouse and Hooper co-chair the 2009
Annual Fund

As faculty and staff chair of the 2009 Annual Fund campaign, Dr. Hooper’s duties involve working with co-chair Deirdre Haywood-Rouse to rally the faculty and staff to participate. Hooper said the campaign changed this year because of the nature of financial challenges.

“We want to keep people focused on the fact that although faculty and staff have challenges with finances, students do too,” said Hooper. “Everybody has the same challenges, so the campaign this year is about making sure that everybody participates. Some just can’t give the same amount this year that they did last year so we need more people to participate in the campaign.”

Based on this concept, Hooper and Rouse developed the Annual Fund’s theme of Collective Strength – the idea that a little help goes a long way.

“We recognize that it was more important to have people engaged collectively to come up with a strong scholarship fund than to lean on big donors,” said Hooper. “We’ve talked with everyone about participation focus, saying that if everybody gave $10 a month, we would exceed our goal. If everybody gives a little, we’d have an incredibly strong scholarship fund.”

The Annual Fund campaign, previously known as A DAY, is a rebranded fund-raising drive to support student scholarships, faculty and staff development and undergraduate research.

Hooper and Rouse’s faculty and staff goal this year is $115,000 – higher than last year’s goal of $100,000. Despite the economic difficulties, faculty and staff pulled together and exceeded their goal in 2008.

So far, the total amount raised this year has exceeded $40,000.

“My belief is that it is better to aim high and miss than aim low and succeed,” said Hooper. “The scholarship funds at West Georgia are worth aiming high for.”

For more information on the Annual Fund or to volunteer or contribute, call 678-839-6582.

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