All-University Fund Drive kicks off Oct. 3 with launch party breakfast

President Pescovitz pledges 20 percent match to AUFD gift total
President Pescovitz
President Pescovitz makes her AUFD gift at the launch party breakfast. She also pledged to personally match the total of all AUFD gifts by 20 percent.

This academic year is a special one for Oakland University senior Abby Majestic. It’s the first year that the 21-year-old Honors College student and English major won’t have to take out loans to pay for her education. 

 

“There’s this moment when you open a letter and read the words ‘scholarship

recipient’ and you just stop breathing for a moment,” she said. “Having a complete stranger believe in you and your future enough to be willing to give you a scholarship is the most amazing feeling.”

 

Majestic is one of many students who have benefited from scholarships made possible through OU’s All-University Fund Drive (AUFD), the annual campaign during which OU faculty, staff and retirees make financial gifts to support student scholarships, academic and athletics programs, research opportunities and more.

 

Abby Majestic

AUFD student speaker Abby Majestic describes the positive impact that OU scholarships have made on her life.

This year’s AUFD kicked off with a launch party breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 3 in the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms. During the event, 137 donors contributed gifts totaling $61,041.

 

The AUFD runs through Friday, Dec. 8 and aims to raise $485,000 from 930 donors. The President’s Office will match $.50 for each dollar donated, up to a total individual gift of $10,000. That translates to a maximum $5,000 match, up from $2,500 last year. The Match counts toward gifts and pledges made by December 8.

 

“We have to increase the percentage of our budget that comes from philanthropy," Dr. Pescovitz told the audience. "Not only that, but we have to increase the percentage of our budget that comes from our own people. We have to invest in ourselves.”

 

​In addition to the 50 percent match from the President's Office, Dr. Pescovitz made a surprise commitment at the AUFD kick-off event. She pledged to personally match the total of all AUFD gifts by 20 percent. If the university meets the AUFD goal, this personal gift could potentially exceed $100,000. 

 

Abby Majestic and parents

Abby Majestic is pictured with her parents at the AUFD launch party breakfast. 

However, the 20 percent commitment is not contingent upon reaching the goal. This personal commitment is slightly different from her office's match. Rather than following the funds that employees and retirees contribute to, this gift will be Dr. Pescovitz's opportunity to fund her passion. More details will follow about exactly what this fund will do, but it is certain to be a very impactful gift for the campus and students.

 

This year’s AUFD also features a division competition, with a trophy to be awarded to the large division (150 or more employees) and small division (less than 150 employees) with the highest participation percentage. Gifts from full- and part-time employees will count toward each division’s totals.

 

“We’re hoping to stir up some friendly rivalries between schools, divisions and units around campus,” said Kelly Brault, director of Annual Giving. “It’s a fun way to tap into our campus’ competitive nature while encouraging our faculty, staff and retirees to give. The real winners of the AUFD, of course, are the students.”

 

This year’s AUFD co-chairs are Kevin Ball, Dean of the School of Health Sciences; Nancy Schmitz, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs; Dave Dulio, Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science; Aimee Symington, Office Assistant II in the College of Arts and Sciences; Pat Nicosia, Retired Director of Budget and Financial Planning; George Gamboa, Professor Emeritus of Biology George Gamboa and his wife Teresa Gamboa, Retired Registrar’s Office Coordinator.

 

For more information regarding the AUFD, or how to make a gift, visit the AUFD website at isupportOU.com/AUFD or contact Annual Giving at (248) 370-4504 or [email protected].

AUFD Large Division Trophy

This year's AUFD features a division competition, with a trophy to be awarded to the large division  and small division with the highest participation percentage. The Large Division Trophy is pictured.