megankeyser

Armed with cell phones, pens, and multiple bowls of M&Ms, Marian girls are ready to call Marian alums as part of Phone-A-Thon, the school’s annual giving program.

Freshman Emily Schneckenberger grinned across the table at her sister, senior Claire Schneckenberger, and the room erupted into celebratory congratulations. She thanked the woman on the phone for her $500 donation, ended the call, and dialed another prospective donor’s number.

“Phone-A- Thon allows us to connect with the donor on a personal basis,” Ms. Sue Lind- sey Mickey ‘69, director of the Marian Fund, said. “You really want to maintain a conversation and relationship with the donor.”

Marian’s Phone-A-Thon program began in the offices and cubicles of insurance companies in the early 1990s. After the implementation of privacy laws, the program transferred to cell phones. It has taken place after school in the College Center ever since. Volunteers and students are given a script and instructions to follow as they solicit funds.

“Phone-A-Thon builds relationships,” Claire said. “It’s really great to talk to the alums. When they ask you how your year is going, it’s fun to be able to talk to them.”

The Marian Fund’s financial goal this year is $600,000 and “Phone-A-Thon is a good percentage of the Marian Fund. It’s critical to the school because it brings in more money than any other fundraiser in the school,” Mickey said.

The Phone-A-Thon program generates 30 percent of the Marian Fund goal, or $160,000-$200,000 every year. The money is used for tuition assistance, curriculum department improvement, and faculty and staff necessities.

“A myriad of cash flow is what we’re giving this school,” Mickey said. “It funds the financial community’s need.” Daily compensations and prizes ranging from BLUEtique items to gift cards are provided as incentives to the students to keep making the calls.

Mistakes and misdials have lead to multiple humorous conversations with strangers.  “Sometimes you call and it’s the wrong number. That’s awkward,” Claire said. “One time I called a lady and she said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you,’ and hung up. But then most people are really nice.”

As the Schneckenberger sisters sat for hours at a time powered by candy and motivation to get donations, they exchanged laughs. “If she [Emily]’s on the phone and trying to talk, I’ll make her laugh, and we just giggle with each other,” Claire said. “We have to apologize and keep laughing.”

“I hire students to supplement the amount of volunteers we need to call the alums and parents of alums because there is such a huge amount of people we need to connect with,” Mickey said.

Students are not only offered a financial reward, but also gain experience to bolster their resumés. “It really helps with communicating skills,” Emily said. “Before starting, I was really nervous talking to other people on the phone but now, I’m comfortable with it.”

“You’re really making an impact on the school,” Mickey said. “You have to convey that to the donors, because it’s their money we’re using to increase the programs we have, to enhance faculty programs and technology.”