Parents answer the call by generously supporting student programs

Parents of juniors and seniors pledged more than $41,000 for critical student services during a recent telephone fundraising drive for the Parent Annual Fund.

The Parent Annual Fund provides opportunities for students to achieve their goals by funding programs and services not covered by tuition, including:

• Career services such as assistance with resume writing, career exploration and personal assessment.
• Employer outreach activities that build a strong network of internships and career opportunities.
• The annual delivery of workshops and career fairs including the International Opportunities Fair on Jan. 22 and the Winter Career Fair on Feb. 12.
• Support for Western’s Leadership Advantage program which provides students with a broad range of leadership development opportunities across campus including assessment testing, leadership retreats, skill development workshops, a resource library, Web resources, and a speaker series.

The WWU Parent Phonathon is the primary source of funding for the Parent Annual Fund. Western students make these calls during evenings and weekends throughout the school year.

Parents of freshmen, sophomores and transfer students can expect Phonathon calls during winter and spring quarters.

“Parents can make a significant impact at Western by increasing the resources available to students, especially during these difficult budget times,” said Angie Vandenhaak, director of development for parents with the WWU Foundation.

Parents who wish to support another area of campus, such as the university’s scholarship fund, their students’ academic major or Viking Athletics may also do so through the Phonathon.

“We understand that many parents have already made a significant investment in their child and we are truly grateful for the additional contributions many families have chosen to make,” Vandenhaak said.

Organizers hope contributions to the Parent Annual Fund will top $130,000 this year.

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Western Washington University Foundation