Dear colleagues:

I have some exciting personnel updates to share regarding the Donor Engagement unit:

First of all, we said goodbye to Erin Bess Gecewicz, who recently moved to Chicago with her husband. Erin has accepted a position with the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation, as an events coordinator working with the affiliated organizations of the hospital. We appreciate her many contributions, especially with the stewardship program for endowed professorships, and the creation of numerous personalized picture books for principal donors.

Jennifer McGuire will replace Erin as a Stewardship Coordinator. Jennifer is the perfect fit for Donor Engagement, having earned two bachelor’s degrees – one in economics from Indiana University (which will aid her in creating endowment reports) and another in hospitality  from Kendall College (which will certainly enhance events such as the Scholarship Fellowship Recognition Weekend). Jennifer and her husband Gavin (yes this is the Irishman we all know!) and their six month son Hugh reside in South Bend.

Victoria (Tory) Grimes is also joining the team as the Donor Engagement Coordinator, reporting directly to me. She brings over ten years of experience as a Program Account Manager with Summit Planners, Inc. in Mishawaka. At Summit, Tory built strong relationships with customers and clients, orchestrating professional meetings and incentive travel programs for groups ranging in size from 60 to 978 participants. A graduate of Indiana University, Tory and her husband Bill Karling live in South Bend.

I know you’ll help me give Jennifer and Tory a warm Notre Dame welcome! Both will start on Monday, March 17 and both will be housed in Eddy Street Commons.

Warm regards,

Katherine

Katherine Lane, MSA ‘00, Senior Director, Donor Engagement

Free ND t-shirt for donating!

 Please schedule an appointment online with the following link:

https://www.givebloodnow.com/index.cfm?group=op&expand=5024&zc=46556

Join us in the Eddy Street 3rd Floor Family Room

Bring in some Spring cheer and help benefit the 2014 Relay for Life by purchasing some fresh cut Daffodils!

All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Daffodils:     $10;    Daffodils with vase:   $15

Orders Due March 24;  Pick up on March 26

Visit the website:  marketplace.nd.edu/blooming

For more information, call Stacy Montague at 631-4232 or montague.3@nd.edu

I want to thank you each for taking time to express your condolences. I am grateful and thankful for your support.

I will miss my big brother dearly. Friends like you help make it easy for me to get through this difficult time.

Again, thank you for your support and love for taking time out to write me.

Sincerely,
Stephanie

During this Lenten Season, instead of giving something up, why don’t you give something away?

We will be collecting gently used clothing and house wares to benefit St. Vincent de Paul, beginning March 5, Ash Wednesday, through April 20, Easter Sunday. There will be a donation box set up in the Eddy Street Office Café.

Read on to learn about the inspiration behind Eric’s Promise:

On Ash Wednesday in 2002, Marian High School Senior Eric Henry made a promise to “try to be more giving.” So that evening, he put together several bags to donate to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society. Before he had the opportunity to deliver his gifts, however, Eric died in an automobile accident.

Thanks to many of his friends and classmates, however, Eric’s Promise lives on. Every year during Lent, school groups, businesses and other organizations seek to be more giving by donating food, clothing, usable items and cash to Saint Vincent de Paul to assist in the charity’s fundamental mission of serving the poor in our community.

Questions? Ask Beth Ferlic:  631-2593

I am sad to report the passing of Donald Witcher, Jr., the oldest brother of our dear friend and colleague, Stephanie Witcher. Mr. Witcher passed away yesterday after a lengthy illness. He is survived by three daughters and nine siblings. Please keep Stephanie and her family in your prayers.

Al Bucci