Monthly Archives: March 2019

Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, Scholarship Recipient, SIU

150 Stories of Philanthropy: SIU Scholarship Recipient Max Goins

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SIU Scholarship Recipient Max Goins

Welcome to a series of stories celebrating SIU’s 150th anniversary.

Max Goins is a senior from Herrin, Illinois, studying history.

What inspired you to choose your area of study?
I enjoyed watching the History Channel as a kid a lot. I also liked going through old photographs of my town Herrin.

What was your reaction when you received the Bertrand scholarship?
I was overjoyed.

How will the Bertrand scholarship help you make a difference in society?
Since this will make it easier to further my education, I will be able to share my knowledge with others.

Do you have a message that you would like to share with Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand?
I would like to thank them for helping me and allowing me to further my education.

Why should donors consider establishing a scholarship fund for students?
If you can help students then they can then give back to the community one day.

Has receiving this scholarship inspired you to give back to SIU in the future?
I believe all scholarships make people feel inspired to give back. It really just sparks the giving chain and makes you truly happy.

 

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Crowdfunding, Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

150 Stories of Philanthropy: Saluki Food Pantry going above and beyond

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SIU Food Pantry Shannon Denman

Welcome to a series of stories celebrating SIU’s 150th anniversary.

By Jeff Wilson

Since opening in August 2016, the Saluki Food Pantry has served more than 2,400 SIU students and their families. That kind of community service requires support and a lot of hard work.

Recently, the food pantry assisted students after a fire at Evergreen Terrace by supplying food and toiletries to affected individuals.

Much of the work at the food pantry is done by graduate assistant Shannon Denman, said Student Center Associate Director Kent Epplin.

“Without Shannon, we would not be able to operate because there is no dedicated staff member for the location,” Epplin said. “As a result of her ongoing efforts to schedule food drives, we have been successful at supplying our students with the necessary food items.”

During the first two SIU Days of Giving, the Saluki Food Pantry has received $1,800 in donations. Most of those funds are used to pay overhead costs and fund the graduate assistant position.

“Initially, the chancellor funded the pantry, but for the current fiscal year, we are operating off of the SIU Foundation funding,” Epplin said. “The pantry runs on a very simple budget.”

The food pantry works with students both on and off campus, and networks with Saluki Cares and other campus organizations to ensure students are aware of the available resources.

The Saluki Food Pantry is located on the Lower Level of the Student Center and is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. Any student with a valid student ID can access the pantry’s resources. To learn more, visit www.studentcenter.siu.edu/services/saluki-food-pantry.php.

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Donor Stories, Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, Scholarship Recipient, SIU

150 Stories of Philanthropy: Jeanne Hurley Simon Scholarship

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Jeanne Hurley Simon

Welcome to a series of stories celebrating SIU’s 150th anniversary.

By Rebecca Renshaw

We all know of power couples who have the influence to do big things in our world and make it a point to help those less fortunate.

SIU Carbondale takes pride and honor being associated with its own power couple: Paul and Jeanne Simon. Together, they forged a new landscape for the university, the state and the country.

When Paul Simon, an Illinois Democrat, left the United States Senate in 1997, Jeanne Simon joined him on SIU’s faculty as an adjunct professor of library affairs. Together, they helped found and shape the agenda of the SIU Public Policy Institute.

In 1993, Jeanne Simon had been named chair of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, a post to which President Bill Clinton reappointed her in 1997. In that position she promoted literacy programs and financing for libraries.

David Yepsen, former director of what is now the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, had this to say about the Jeanne Simon’s contributions: “She was a pioneering figure in her own right and was considered a true trailblazer. She was one of the few women law students at Northwestern University and one of the first female representatives in the General Assembly.”  Although Jeanne Simon passed away in 2000, Paul Simon continued their legacy until his passing in 2003.

A longtime Simon friend and former dean of SIU Library Affairs, Carolyn Wagner Snyder, sought a way to honor Jeanne Hurley Simon. Snyder helped establish the Jeanne Hurley Simon Memorial Scholarship to honor her life and legacy.

The scholarship will honor Jeanne Simon’s legacy by providing financial assistance, mentorship and other opportunities to Illinois students interested in public service careers.

“In a very real way, this scholarship is an effort to keep Jeanne Simon’s mission alive by ‘paying it forward’ for other young women who want to pursue public service as Jeanne did,” Yepsen says.

The first student to benefit from the scholarship is Shantel Franklin, a first-generation college student from Chicago.

“Since my freshman year, I have witnessed the Paul Simon Institute go above and beyond to provide opportunities for students,” says Franklin, a political science major. “I am grateful to have been selected to be the inaugural recipient of this award honoring the remarkable life of Mrs. Jeanne Hurley Simon. I will benefit tremendously from the financial assistance of this scholarship.”

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Crowdfunding, Donor Stories, Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

SIU Carbondale Day of Giving totals exceed $909,000

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SIU Day of Giving Thank You

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The totals are in, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s March 6 Day of Giving raised more than $909,000 for scholarships, programs and other SIU priorities.

“We’re deeply grateful to our many donors – alumni, faculty, staff, students community members and more — for their generous support of our students and the university,” said Chancellor John Dunn. “You have made a very positive difference.”

The third annual 24-hour fundraising campaign far exceeded last year’s total of $480,000, said Rae Goldsmith, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. This year, more than 2,900 gifts came from 45 states and 10 countries.

“The Day of Giving also served to launch our year-long celebration of our 150th anniversary,” she said. “Many donors wanted to be part of this historic event at the same time they wanted to invest in the university’s future.”

The day included a friendly competition among units and organizations for raising the most money or attracting the most gifts. This year, trophies will be given to both academic and non-academic units.

Among academic programs, the School of Medicine attracted the most gifts and also raised the most funds.

Among non-academic programs, a Facebook group raised the most gifts for the new “Balancing Education, Experience and Reality” Scholarship, while Saluki Athletics will take home the trophy for most dollars raised.

“The Day of Giving involved the entire SIU community. It was a great demonstration of the power of philanthropy bringing people together for the greater good,” Goldsmith said. “Thank you to everyone who helped us far exceed our goals.”

A thank-you video is online, and photos highlighting the Day of Giving and anniversary launch can be found on SIU’s Facebook page.

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Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, Scholarship Recipient, SIU

150 Stories of Philanthropy: SIU Scholarship Recipient Randall Grider

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Randall Grider, Bertrand Scholarship recipient at SIU

Randall Grider is a senior from Johnston City, Illinois, studying sociology.

Why did you choose SIU?
I chose SIU because I had firsthand experience with the campus environment while growing up in the area. I really enjoyed the feel of the campus, not too small and not too big, which is something I didn’t find at any of the other universities I visited.

What inspired you to choose your area of study?
I really enjoy studying the social world and trying to understand our current social problems. Studying sociology has definitely been the right major for doing this.

What was your reaction when you received the Bertrand scholarship?
I was extremely grateful. Going to school full time while also working can be very stressful, so receiving this scholarship lifted some of that burden.

Do you have a message that you would like to share with Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand?
I would just like to thank them for their generosity. Not everyone is as kind or generous as the Bertrands are, and this truly makes a difference in so many students’ lives.

Why should donors consider establishing a scholarship fund for students?
Donors can truly impact so many people’s lives by establishing a scholarship fund.  From the student’s perspective, receiving a scholarship is so helpful.

Has receiving this scholarship inspired you to give back to SIU in the future?
I have worked with the Johnston City Music Alumni Association in giving scholarships to local high school seniors each year, who mostly go to SIU.  But I would definitely like to set up a larger scholarship fund in the future if I am able to.

 

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Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Join the party as SIU begins its 150th anniversary celebration March 6

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SIU Day of Giving

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — It’s a 150th birthday bash and you’re invited. Southern Illinois University Carbondale was founded in 1869 and on March 6, as the third annual  Day of Giving is underway, a yearlong celebration highlighting the university’s accomplishments and future will begin.

Everyone is welcome at the Student Center

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Student Center’s first floor will be hosting a party featuring birthday cookies, disc jockey, balloon animals and a fun photo booth. A large-screen television will allow participants to watch as the tally grows for the Day of Giving, 24-hour online fundraising campaign.

Be sure and check out the displays promoting various units and programs that obtain support through the Day of Giving.

In addition, there will be some special activities and giveaways, including a commemorative gift, just for SIU students.

Get involved with the Day of Giving and SIU’s birthday kickoff

That afternoon, the celebration moves to Morris Library, where there will be a big birthday gift box reveal at 2 p.m., complete with special campus and community guests, and a birthday cake. Students and staff can take selfies at the library and add their photo stickers to the cool picture mosaic board.

There will be hourly giveaways throughout the day at the Student Center and Morris Library as well, courtesy of the SIU Foundation.

Visit the Day of Giving website to learn more about the event, which represents a great opportunity to benefit present and future Salukis, along with SIU programs, by donating to your favorite of more than 150 campus areas and projects.

In addition, keep an eye on the university’s 150th anniversary website for interesting historical tidbits and photos and to learn more about special activities happening all year long.

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Higher Education, Illinois Higher Education, SIU

Saluki Food Pantry – a worthy project for the SIU Day of Giving

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Support Saluki Food Pantry on SIU Day of Giving

Since opening in August 2016, the Saluki Food Pantry has served more than 2,500 SIU students and their families. That kind of community service requires support and a lot of hard work.

Much of the work at the food pantry is done by graduate assistant Shannon Denman, said Student Center Associate Director Kent Epplin.

During the first two SIU Days of Giving, the Saluki Food Pantry has received $1,800 in donations. Most of those funds are used to pay overhead costs and fund the graduate assistant position. For the upcoming third SIU Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 6, the hope is that even more donations will be raised.

“Initially, the chancellor funded the pantry, but for the current fiscal year, we are operating off of the SIU Foundation funding,” Epplin said. “The pantry runs on a very simple budget.”

The food pantry works with students both on and off campus, and networks with Saluki Cares and other campus organizations to ensure students are aware of the available resources.

For the 2018 fall semester, students came to the pantry needing a wide variety of assistance. Four students asked for help with baby clothes and furniture while one student needed help paying her dog bills and buying dog food. 15 students were referred to outside community resources, such as additional food pantries, SNAP/WIC benefits, counseling, and clothing.

The Saluki Food Pantry is located on the Lower Level of the Student Center and is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. Any student with a valid student ID can access the pantry’s resources. To give to the food pantry on SIU Day of Giving, visit siuday.siu.edu and click Student Affairs.

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