College Launches 'Give to PC Month'

Providence College launched its first “Give to PC Month” on May 1 to call attention to the generosity of donors and to make one more fiscal-year appeal for assistance in fully funding the college experience for all its students.

The month-long campaign emphasizes the importance of gifts from alumni, parents, and friends to meet the College’s financial needs each year.

Student tuition covers approximately 86 percent of a PC education. The College relies on other financial support — primarily private donations — to “cover the gap” and fund the remainder of the fiscal-year budget.

Realizing the 14 percent difference allows PC to meet its commitment to providing a comprehensive college experience for every student, including an excellent curriculum and academic programs, exceptional faculty, technological and infrastructure improvements, and student programming.

“The 14 percent is comprised of gifts from alumni, parents, and friends making contributions from $20 to over $100,000,” said Betsy Freedman-Doherty, director of annual giving and development services in the Office of Institutional Advancement. “Every gift counts and truly makes a difference in the lives of our students and faculty.”

The momentum for Give to PC Month began recently in special fashion when students gathered in the Slavin Center over the course of two days to write thank-you notes to donors. Nearly 12,000 donors have made gifts to the College to date. Freedman-Doherty said the College hopes to have as many as 15,000 donors by June 30.

One of the many students who have reached out in gratitude to donors is Kelley Borowy ’12 of Sykesville, Md. Borowy told donors she “would not be the person I am without Providence College.”

Borowy explained how a NOLA Immersion trip to post-Katrina New Orleans settled her freshman-year nerves and was a springboard to helping her find her place in the College community. She has been in Campus Ministry for four years and served as the student minister for spiritual life on the Pastoral Council this academic year.

Borowy also has been a phonathon volunteer for the College since her freshman year and, as a social work major, has worked in two impactful internship experiences. In one, through the Diocese of Providence, she created a support group for struggling mothers in need of emotional strength. In another internship, she interacted with senior citizens in a nursing home.

“I’m really grateful that Providence College exists. It has prepared me to be a better person in the workplace and in the world,” she said.
In addition to the thank-you notes, the Give to PC Month campaign includes postcard thanks and solicitations to donors and notices about the appeal on the College’s alumni Web site, alumni.providence.edu, and alumni Facebook page, facebook.com/pcAlumni.