There is no denying that fall semester is under way and our team is as busy as ever. As the year progresses, let’s DARe to Level Up through leadership, collaboration and impact (you’ll hear more about this at our Town Hall meeting!). And don’t forget our call to action for our alumni, donors and friends: GROW, GIVE, GUIDE. I appreciate you and all you do for UGA. Let’s keep making the best better! |
|
|
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the UGA Foundation |
| | |
What You'll Find in This Month's Pulse |
-
📈 Fundraising Update
- Upcoming DAR Meetings 📆
- Events for Alumni + Friends 🤝
- 👩🏫 UGA Mentor Program Update
- 🏥 School of Medicine Update
-
Preseason Game Day Button Campaign💲
- 🏈 Beat Week vs. Bama
- Reminder: Blank Birthday Cards 🥳
- 🍂 Georgia Magazine Fall Issue
- Nominations Open: Leadership Dawgs 💼
-
👔 Professional Clothing Collection
- 40 Under 40 Updates 4️⃣0️⃣
- 💯 Bulldog 100 Next Steps
- DAR Name Tag Templates 🎉
- 🌅 Coastal Georgia Happenings
- DAR in the News 📰
-
DAR Headshot Schedule 📸
- 🔔 Ring the Bell: DAR Success Stories
- 🌟 DAR Stars: Eliza Hembree & Evan Christian
- ✈️ Regional Programs Travel Schedule
- Open DAR Positions 🎉
-
👨💼 Staff Announcements
- New! Pets of DAR 🐕 🐈🐖 🐍 🦜
- 🥳 Just for Fun: Freshman Welcome
|
|
|
Here is where we stand in fundraising as of August 27: |
|
|
The DAR Meetings page has been updated to better serve as a reference for DAR meetings. If you have an adjustment or would like something added, please email Elizabeth Elmore.
|
|
|
DAR Flu Clinic September 25 | 8:30-10:30AM
One Press Place | Sic 'Em Conf. Room |
Discover DAR: UGA Career Center September 27, 2024 Delta Innovation Hub |
UGAF Board of Trustees Meeting October 3-4, 2024 Athens, GA |
Alumni Assoc. BOD Fall Meeting
October 11, 2024 Athens, GA |
DAR 101 October 15, 2024 Stelling Study - A220 Moore-Rooker Hall |
| October Discover DAR
October 25, 2024 Butts-Mehre First Floor Meeting Room |
Fall Development Meeting November 4, 2024
Tate Grand Hall |
Team Stewardship
November 7, 2024 Georgia Center, Dogwood Hall |
Nov/Dec Discover DAR December 6, 2024 Delta Innovation Hub |
Winter Development Meeting
February 4, 2025 Tate Grand Hall |
Spring Development Meeting May 12, 2025 Tate Grand Hall |
| |
Events for Alumni + Friends |
|
|
40 Under 40 Awards Luncheon
September 6, 2024 | 11AM Tate Grand Hall |
40 Under 40 Tailgate September 7, 2024 Victor K. Wilson Memorial Hall Ballroom |
Women of UGA Mentorship Monday: Handshakes & Headshots September 23, 2024 | 6-8 PM One Live Oak Center | Terry Executive Hall |
Beat Week vs. Alabama September 23-28, 2024 Student Kickoff: Sept. 23 (Tate Plaza)
Senior Signature Kickoff: Sept. 25 Student Tailgate: Sept. 26 |
| SAC Applications Open October 1, 2024 |
UGA Homecoming Parade October 4, 2024 Downtown Athens |
Black Alumni Homecoming Tailgate October 5, 2024 Myers Quad |
Dawg Day of Gratitude October 16, 2024 Tate Center + South Campus + satellite locations across campus |
Presidents Club Reception November 15, 2024 Tate Grand Hall |
Oyster Roast for a Reason
November 23, 2024 Skidaway Island, GA |
Fall Commencement December 13, 2024 Stegeman Coliseum |
Dawg Day of Giving March 27, 2025 *Details to come! |
|
|
UGA Mentor Program Update |
Please welcome our new program coordinators, Rebecca Hughes and Drew Sanford, who are excited to partner with everyone to support UMP.
Take a peek at the new UMP Marketing Toolkit from DARCOMM; it is a one-stop shop for assets (including digital screens and fliers) to market the program in your channels. We are excited to launch student-facing eLC modules that offer a deeper dive into mentorship, our resources and UMP. Students self-enroll and can access the modules as needed — there are even faculty members using them this semester! Questions? Email Bethany Bagwell. |
|
|
School of Medicine Updates |
Matt Mize has been named interim senior director of development for the School of Medicine. Matt will report jointly to Kathy Bangle and to the Dean of the School of Medicine. As the chief development officer for the School of Medicine, he will be responsible for raising major and principal gifts for the school as well as providing strategy, leadership, and management of all aspects of giving, including major gifts, annual gifts, stewardship, and alumni relations.
|
|
|
Preseason Game Day Button Campaign |
Thanks to S/C/Us around campus that have been promoting the button campaign on their social media and websites. |
The Annual Giving football preseason campaign, which includes a set of UGA buttons for donors at $5+, is still going strong as we gear up for football season to begin. As of Aug. 15, more than 1,500 donors had collectively donated $35,000. The giving page is give.uga.edu/buttons and features one fund per area in the dropdown, with the option for donors to search for additional funds. This resources sheet and social toolkit
will be useful as you share on social and in newsletters. Let Evan Christian or your Annual Giving liaison know if you need custom links. The campaign ends Sept. 3 and buttons began being mailed to donors the week of Aug. 19.
|
|
|
Let's Beat 'Bama During Beat Week |
Beat Week is Sept. 23-28 and UGA is taking on the Crimson Tide this year. The school with the most gifts by the end of the week is the winner, although both schools win as they go head-to-head to secure gifts to support students and other academic priorities. Email Sherry Abrams if you or a member of your development or marketing team needs a link for the Beat Week Zoom workshop on Aug. 26. The digital toolkit
is being enhanced with assets you can use to promote this week to your donors. And the Alumni Relations team is hosting events for all students that you can view on the UGA Master Calendar.
|
|
|
Reminder: Blank Birthday Cards Available |
Did you know that Donor Relations has birthday cards that you can use for FREE? If you have a donor or prospect with a birthday and they do not fall into the DR&S birthday card process for the month, please feel free to stop by the suite in One Press Place to grab a card or two to pop in the mail. Questions? Contact Daynes Parker.
|
|
|
Georgia Magazine Fall Issue |
The fall issue of Georgia Magazine should be hitting mailboxes by now. Copies for DAR use will make their way to One Press Place in the coming 2-3 weeks and will be posted in the upstairs hallway outside the breakroom; please take whatever you need for outreach and engagement.
For the first time, DARCOMM will partner with MARCOMM to send a quarterly email to alumni, parents and donors featuring magazine content. This email will be sent mid-September. If you have or hear feedback on this communication, please share with Elizabeth Elmore. Thank you! |
|
|
Nominations Open: Leadership Dawgs |
|
|
Professional Clothing Collection Ends **Aug. 30** |
|
|
40 Under 40 Luncheon + Tailgate |
The 2024 40 Under 40 Awards Luncheon is on the horizon (Friday, Sept. 6). Logistics details for registrants will be sent a few days prior to the luncheon. Please help us recognize your honorees online using the digital toolkit.
Honorees and past honorees have been invited to a pre-game tailgate the following day (Sept. 7). Questions about either event, please email 40u40@uga.edu. Thank you to everyone for your help leading up to this recognition event. |
|
|
Bulldog 100 nominations are now closed; thanks to everyone who nominated an alumnus for this honor. Nominees have been asked to submit their application along with their past 3 years of financials by October 16. The 2025 Bulldog 100 will be announced in December and celebrated in February 2025. Questions? Email b100@uga.edu.
|
|
|
Do you print nametags for events? Please read! |
|
|
Catherine Henry is here to introduce you to a new series of standard nametags to use at division events — and how to use the templates to make your event-planning life a breeze. |
| |
| Coastal Georgia Happenings |
Check out upcoming happenings on the Georgia Coast in case they would be appealing for a prospect or donor: -
Nov. 7: Library BOV meeting in Savannah
- Nov. 12: Emeritus Trustees Program in Savannah
- Nov. 20-24: RSM Classic @ Sea Island (DawgHouse Hospitality Tent)
-
Nov. 21: Alumni Reception, St. Simons/Sea Island
- Nov. 23: Oyster Roast For A Reason, UGA Marine and Education Center & Aquarium
Questions or things to add to this list? Reach out to Christina Varnedoe. |
|
|
Here are a few recent bits of news from DAR: |
|
|
📸 DAR Headshot Schedule 📸 |
Have you scheduled a headshot with Edwin Hammond? Fill out a scheduling form below; headshots are taken in front of 1 Press Place. |
|
|
Elevated Estate Planning
An estate gift that was originally documented at $1 million jumped to $2.5 million thanks to the great work of Elizabeth Kozak (Regional), Kate Arnold (Lamar Dodd), Meredith Metcalf (Franklin) and Mike Cook (GEP). The gift will benefit capital projects in the geography department as well as the ceramics program. Excellent work, team!
|
|
|
SPIA Hosts Gathering in Savannah
On July 30, SPIA hosted alumni and friends on Isle of Hope featuring Dean Auer, SPIA board members and current students. The gathering, coordinated thanks to great teamwork by Sarah Baines, Ryan Leonard and Christina Varnedoe, shared SPIA updates and opportunities to get involved with attendees.
|
| |
|
Matching Funds to Elevate Scholarship Support
Andrea Burruss and Michelle Rotondo recently closed a gift with Chris and Ellen Etheridge, a couple with a previously established Georgia Commitment Scholarship. Andrea and Michelle happened to be visiting the couple in July, a few days before new matching funds were announced, to thank them for their previous giving and introduce them to Michelle as a new regional contact. When the fundraisers saw the matching news, it was perfect timing; the Etheridges used the match to add to their GCS scholarship in the final two days funds were available. Congrats, ladies!
|
|
|
Eliza Hembree
Eliza plays on her church's softball team and loves Disney park documentaries. And congrats to this senior development analyst on getting married next month! |
|
Evan Christian This Annual Giving Coordinator loves movies and has a top 100 favorite movie list on the Letterboxd app; stop by to ask him about his favorites! |
|
|
🚗 Regional Programs Travel ✈️
|
The Regional team will be traveling to the following cities soon. |
|
|
Chris Jefts Albany, GA (Aug. 27-29) Rome/Dalton/Cartersville, GA (Sept. 11-12) Thomasville/Bainbridge, GA (Sept. 24-25)
Vince Thomas Columbus, GA (Sept. 3-5) Jacksonville, FL (Sept. 18-20)
Rob Carrico Dallas/Houston, TX (Aug. 25-30) Greenville, SC (Sept. 4-6) Atlanta, GA (Sept. 11)
Ellie Engquist Long Island, NY (Sept. 5-6) Athens, GA (Sept. 8-10)
Washington, DC (Sept. 22-24) Michelle Versfeld Atlanta, GA (Sept. 17) |
| Christina Varnedoe
Savannah, GA (Month of August) Athens, GA (Sept. 6-10) St. Simons Island, GA (Sept. 25-26) Katie Adams Chattanooga, TN (Sept. TBD-6) Athens, GA (Sept. 8-10) Chandler Boyle Athens, GA (Sept. 8-10) Washington, DC (Sept. 22-24) Kyle Bryson Dallas/Houston, TX (Aug. 26-30) Athens, GA (Sept. 8-11) Dallas/Houston, TX (Sept. 16-20) *tentative Dallas, TX (Sept. 23-25) Michelle Rotondo Athens, GA (Sept. 9-10) Athens, GA (Sept. 27) |
|
|
Open Position Postings in DAR
We encourage anyone interested in applying to do so. All UGA HR policies and procedures apply. If you know of a potential candidate who may be a good fit for an opportunity, contact Michelle Carter.
|
|
|
- Welcome to Nic Laconico, Associate Director, Office of Business Engagement
-
Welcome to Sophia Duke, Annual Gift Officer, Terry College
Welcome to former VP for Student Affairs Victor K. Wilson, named Assistant to the VP for Special Projects Welcome to
Tanner Poltzer, Expenditure Data Analyst, UGA Foundation -
Welcome to Jen Lomas, Development Administrative Specialist, Terry College
- Congrats to Umesh Patel, named Director of Career Development and Programs, Career Center
-
Congrats to Darbie Marchman, named Associate Director of Special Events, Special Events
- Congrats to Brandon Sutton, named Assoc. Director of Business Analytics, Advancement IT
-
Congrats to Wanda Massey, retiring from UGAF Gift Accounting
- Congrats to Kyle Tschepikow, named Sr. Executive Director of Business Engagement and Career Connections
-
Congrats to Kathy Ortstadt, named Interim Sr. Executive Director of Development
- Congrats to Jan Blaine, named Interim Sr. Director of Development for Constituent Programs
-
Congrats to Matt Mize, named Interim Sr. Director of Development for the School of Medicine
- Best wishes to Whitney Denney, leaving UGA Career Center
- Best wishes to Camryn Chiu, leaving UGA Career Center
Have a change for the DAR online directory? Email Abbie Jones with your change(s). |
| |
Name: Percy (or Plerpy or Purple or "Stop Yelling at the Neighbors!") Owner: Emily Clary (School of Law)
Fun Fact Despite being a Labrador/Great Pyrenees/Pitbull mix, Percy is a Bulldog through and through; he can even call the Dawgs! Peep his IG to see his spirit in action. |
| Name: Bella (a Juliana pig)
Owner: Michelle Jones (Vet Med) Fun Fact: Bella loves a belly rub, a comfy spot on the couch, an outing to the elementary school and munching on cat food or the Bermuda grass that Michelle's husband is trying to grow! |
|
|
On Aug. 13, DAR helped to welcome 5,066 incoming students to campus during this year's Freshman Welcome event in Sanford Stadium. Kudos to the Student Engagement team and the Student Alumni Council for spearheading the logistics of this massive undertaking. Please feel free to leverage this media in your communications channels:
Questions? Contact Terrance Smith. |
|
|
Do you have information or a suggestion for an upcoming edition of the Pulse? |
|
| |
