Student-donors from the Class of 2009 celebrated their record-breaking 45 percent Senior Giving Program participation rate and $26,499 gift to Providence College and its PC Fund at the first-ever Senior Sendoff Reception on April 30 on campus.

In breaking the previous participation record of 31 percent set by the Class of 2006, the seniors also were celebrating a $10,000 gift to the PC Fund by an anonymous donor. The gift was offered by an alum if the seniors broke the record. The PC Fund supports the College's most urgent needs in academic programs and faculty support, student programs and services, technology, financial aid, athletics, and campus infrastructure.

According to Michael Verzino, development associate in the Office of Institutional Advancement, 438 members of the Class of 2009 participated in the Senior Giving Program.

The semi-formal Senior Sendoff Reception was held under a tent on Alumni Lane, a walkway that connects Phillips Memorial Library and St. Dominic Chapel. The walkway consists partially of bricks that were the gift of the Class of 2006 and from a campaign directed by the Office of Institutional Advancement.

By pledging to donate at least $100 of the $500 enrollment fee the College returns to seniors after graduation or by making a personal donation to the PC Fund, members of the Class of 2009 also will receive an engraved brick on the walkway.

The reception began with a blessing of Alumni Lane and the senior class by Rev. Thomas J. Blau, O.P., College chaplain. Guests were then ushered under the tent, where they listened to welcoming remarks by Amanda Heinsen '09 of Lake Bluff, Ill., and Kieran Murray '09 of Garden City, N.J., co-chairs of the Senior Giving Committee.

Celebrating the donations from 438 members of the graduating class, Murray said she "hopes to keep this sense of unity alive in our class as we move on to being young alumni."

Faculty speaker offers wisdom
Following a $26,499 check presentation to Michael V. Frazier, vice president for business and finance/CFO, from Edward Chiu, associate vice president for institutional advancement, Dr. Andrew J. Peach, associate professor of philosophy, addressed the seniors. He congratulated class members for their academic achievement and their gift to PC.

He also implored them to "remember Providence College" and "offer PC your time, talent, and financial help."

"I encourage you tonight to be grateful; be as prodigal and reckless in your gratitude as the Good Lord has been in giving you all of your unmerited gifts," he said. "Gratitude is one of the most endearing of all virtues, and the good news is that, at bottom, it is more a matter of heart than deed. Do what you can to make Providence College an excellent community and give what you can to make the education you have received possible for the next generation."

Mark Gasbarro'97, a member of the National Alumni Association's Board of Governors, also spoke and congratulated the group for its "amazing accomplishment."

"To have an actual positive and bright spot in this economy is a tremendous accomplishment," he said.

Gasbarro noted all the physical changes that have occurred on campus since he graduated and said the graduates' gift would continue to remake the College.

"The one thing we have in common is we all bleed black and white," he said. "You're providing memories for future graduating classes at PC."