Great seats
Employee donors receive unexpected upgrade at football game
9:19 a.m., Sept. 5, 2012--When the Blue Hens took to Tubby Raymond Field last Thursday to defeat the Golden Rams of West Chester University in the first football bout of the season, several UD employees viewed the game from very enviable seats.
The President’s Box at Delaware Stadium is located directly on the 50-yard line in an area usually reserved for dignitaries, politicians and trustees. However, on Thursday night the President’s Box was occupied by 25 UD employees and their guests.
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In recognition of a successful fiscal year 2012 fundraising campaign, UD President Patrick Harker announced in July that he would make tickets in his box for the Aug. 30 game available to faculty and staff members who had donated to the University in 2012.
The winners were chosen at random from the nearly 650 UD employees who donated to the 2012 Faculty/ Staff Fundraising Campaign. The 25 winners represented a variety of positions and departments across campus.
Gerald Hendricks, a research manager in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, was one of the winning employees. As both a UD employee of 36 years and an alumnus who received two degrees from UD, Hendricks has close ties to the University. He was very grateful for receiving a fun night out in recognition of his charitable giving.
“I donate each year, not out a sense of obligation, but to support programs that share my priorities and that strive for excellence,” said Hendricks. “Receiving the perk of sitting in the President's Box for a football game was not a goal, but a much appreciated acknowledgement.”
Like Hendricks, Patricia Brinley was thrilled to learn she had won two tickets to sit in the President’s Box. Brinley, a business administrator in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, brought her husband with her to the game.
“It is a privilege to give back to the University of Delaware,” said Brinley. “I have supported the University’s Annual Giving for many years. Both my children are alums of UD and I am a very proud parent. My contribution is a small investment to the wonderful opportunities that the University offers to students and to be a part in making this University such a great institution.”
According to Harker, “Faculty and staff are the backbone of our University. UD is fortunate to have many dedicated employees who understand the importance of giving back to this community. Their financial contributions can be overlooked sometimes, so I was happy to have had this opportunity to thank them for their participation and for their important role in our fundraising success.”
Members of the faculty and staff who still wish to give to the 2012-2013 Faculty/ Staff Fundraising Campaign may do so by visiting www.udel.edu/fscampaign.
Article by Shannon Pote
Photo by: Duane Perry