Dear Friends,
Mercyhurst University’s advancement eforts from the past fscal year can be summarized by a single word: growth. Every signifcant benchmark was met and exceeded, resulting in the single best fundraising year in the history of the university. We are both grateful and excited that you see Mercyhurst University as a healthy institution worthy of your philanthropy. Growth by itself, however, is not a rationale for positive change. Colleges and universities across North America that grow simply for the sake of growing are seeing justifable donor fatigue from their alumni base. Growth must be based on need, vision and opportunity. We use these three pillars to guide our advancement eforts at Mercyhurst. As we celebrate 90 years of educating young men and women, Mercyhurst has not strayed far from its founding roots. We have emerged as a major force in the educational landscape of the region, while remaining true to our mission as a private Catholic comprehensive college in the Mercy tradition. As a newcomer to Mercyhurst University, I have watched in admiration as this dedicated community of learners comes together to accomplish ambitious goals. There is a genuine fervor here to ensure that our exceptional students receive every opportunity to rise to their potential. And that’s where you, our friends—whether alumni, donors, parents, faculty, staf or students—come in. Without your generous contributions, even our best intentions can’t come to fruition. This year, you made it possible for many of our students to receive scholarships, to see their mighty D-1 hockey teams play in beautifully renovated facilities, to experience a state-of-the-art upgrade to their dining hall, now known as Grotto Commons, and so much more.
The Honor Roll of Donors allows us to acknowledge each and every one of you who supported Mercyhurst during the past fscal year and to share how your generosity impacted our students.
The advancement team is occasionally asked by alumni whether Mercyhurst is a good investment of their limited and precious philanthropic funds. We would like to point toward this year’s presidential election as an illustration of the importance of becoming involved. Philanthropy functions much like an election in the sense that it is a participatory process. Progress and change can only happen when active participants take a keen interest in Mercyhurst. Similar to a presidential candidate, we encourage you to get to know the current needs and opportunities at Mercyhurst, and learn about the various ways in which you can efect change. The advancement department stands ready to help guide you in the direction about which you are most passionate.
Together, we can make the new academic year another period of growth for Mercyhurst. We pledge to you that your support will be professionally managed based on need, vision and opportunity. Again, we are exceedingly grateful for your support!
Sincerely yours,
Caleb M. Pifer Vice President, Advancement Mercyhurst University
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