Spring Break
Record number of parents work Phone-a-Thon; cow donated
Shannon Odell
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: News
This year's Parents' Weekend Phone-A-Thon had a record number of parents making phone calls, Mary Ewers, Hillsdale College director of parent relations, said.
From Oct. 19-22, parents volunteered their evenings to work at the Phone-a-Thon on campus, calling other parents and grandparents of current students. The first night, 15 parents were making phone calls, and by the end of the week, 27 parents were a part of the event - the highest numbers ever in the history of the Phone-A-Thon.
Ewers said the event was also successful in terms of fundraising.
"There were a lot of parents that committed money to the college over the course of the next 10 years," she said.
A parent from Nebraska donated a cow. Ewers said it was the most unusual and hilarious moment she had ever experienced at a Phone-A-Thon. She said the college still isn't sure how it will handle this donation, but it is grateful and excited about the gift.
Senior Stephen Ford's mother, Julie Ford, said that the Phone-A-Thon is not just a fundraiser, even though that is its primary purpose. For Ford, it also turned into a ministry opportunity. She said she prayed for some people she called, and listened to others who just needed to talk to someone.
Ewers said the Phone-A-Thon is a high-energy, high-charged event, as parents are not only asking for money, but also caring for fellow parents of Hillsdale students.
The college has been running a Phone-A-Thon the week before Parents Weekend for about the last 10 years.
Ford said she thoroughly enjoyed the event.
"Any service I can do for the college, I am more than happy to give," she said.
From Oct. 19-22, parents volunteered their evenings to work at the Phone-a-Thon on campus, calling other parents and grandparents of current students. The first night, 15 parents were making phone calls, and by the end of the week, 27 parents were a part of the event - the highest numbers ever in the history of the Phone-A-Thon.
Ewers said the event was also successful in terms of fundraising.
"There were a lot of parents that committed money to the college over the course of the next 10 years," she said.
A parent from Nebraska donated a cow. Ewers said it was the most unusual and hilarious moment she had ever experienced at a Phone-A-Thon. She said the college still isn't sure how it will handle this donation, but it is grateful and excited about the gift.
Senior Stephen Ford's mother, Julie Ford, said that the Phone-A-Thon is not just a fundraiser, even though that is its primary purpose. For Ford, it also turned into a ministry opportunity. She said she prayed for some people she called, and listened to others who just needed to talk to someone.
Ewers said the Phone-A-Thon is a high-energy, high-charged event, as parents are not only asking for money, but also caring for fellow parents of Hillsdale students.
The college has been running a Phone-A-Thon the week before Parents Weekend for about the last 10 years.
Ford said she thoroughly enjoyed the event.
"Any service I can do for the college, I am more than happy to give," she said.
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