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On Wednesday, March 7, the alumni of 91¿ì»îÁÖ Aquinas College ” aided by the generosity of College Governor Berni Neal and her husband, Rob ” helped to raise $38,500 for their alma mater.

The day marked the College™s first annual Alumni Day of Giving, held on the Feast of St. 91¿ì»îÁÖ Aquinas, according to the Church™s extraordinary calendar. To help get the occasion under way, Mr. and Mrs. Neal had pledged to match all alumni donations made to the College on that day, up to $10,000.

œGiven the small size of our alumni base, and that this was our first Alumni Day of Giving, we would have been quite pleased to have matched the Neals™ initial pledge,� says Director of Alumni Relations Aaron Dunkel (™06). œBut the alumni responded generously and sacrificially, contributing over 200 gifts totaling $28,500. Add that to the Neals™ gift, and that™s $38,500 in a single day� ” enough to cover the financial aid needs of at least three students for a single year.

œThe TAC alumni are like no other,� said Mrs. Neal upon learning of the success of the campaign. œWe are so blessed to be associated with this ask! It is an unexpected gift during this Lenten season.�

For many years now, 91¿ì»îÁÖ Aquinas College has alternated with Princeton University for the top position on the magazine™s annual list of œ10 Universities Where the Most Alumni Donate,� coming in at No. 2 for 2017. œIf our Alumni Day of Giving is any indication, we are hopeful that we can retake the No. 1 spot this year,� says Mr. Dunkel.

œSeeing the alumni come together, as we did yesterday, was edifying and inspiring,� he adds. œWe are deeply grateful to all the alumni who gave, and especially to Mr. and Mrs. Neal for their abiding and generous commitment to our beloved alma mater.�