In December, there were several opportunities for the University Relations staff to help make the holidays brighter for those in need in our community. We wanted to express our gratitude for everyone who participated, and provide some details on the YWCA Toy Drive, the Center for the Homeless Item Drive, and the Christmas Ham Donation.

Toys for the YWCA: We encouraged everyone to bring a toy to the Christmas party to donate to the YWCA. The YWCA collects toys throughout the year for their toy room where the parents utilizing their services can shop for their children not only for Christmas but for birthdays. We were able to provide over 175 toys for children of all ages to help stock their toy room. Their CEO, Susan Tybon and Development Associate, Jena Perkins, asked that we share this message with everyone:

“Thank you so much for the donation of new toys for our children. Your support means everything to the women and children at our shelters. Because of your generosity, we were able to bring hope to the many women and children who call our shelter home this holiday season.

The YWCA serves not just as a safe place for women and children but also a caring, supportive home where they can learn the tools and get the support they need to rebuild and improve their lives. We couldn’t do this important work without caring partners in our community like you.

On behalf of our staff and the women and children we serve, thank you for your support. Together we can create a positive change in the lives of others and our community.

God Bless.”

Center for the Homeless Item Drive:  Every holiday season, Notre Dame Development partners with the South Bend Center for the Homeless to help those in need in our community. This year, the Center was in urgent need of personal hygiene and toiletry items. Development delivered 4 large boxes full of these items. Staff at the Center mentioned that these items were coming at a critical time, as supplies had been running low.

Christmas Ham Donations: Every member of the University Relations team receives a ham at the division’s annual Christmas Luncheon. Staff are given the option to not take their ham and instead have it donated to the South Bend Center for the Homeless. This year, University Relations donated 60 hams to the Center, helping feed those in need in our community.

Thank you for all you did to help those in need this holiday season!

On Monday, January 20, the University will mark MLK Day with a campus-wide luncheon and program in the Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. Civil Rights Leader Diane Nash will be the keynote speaker at this luncheon. If you wish to attend the luncheon, please request a ticket by emailing Lana Taylor (ltaylor1@nd.edu) by Thursday, January 16th. We anticipate delivering the requested tickets by Friday, January 17th or on the morning of Monday, January 20th at the latest.

Colleagues,

Please join me in welcoming Victoria “Tori” Hommel to the Philanthropic Strategy team as a Prospect Management Consultant. In this role, Tori will partner with the fundraising teams by providing analysis and guidance to effectively move prospects to the next level in their philanthropic journey. Tori’s first day in the office will be Monday, January 13th.

Tori graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree, and earned her Masters of Science from LSU. She joined the University of Notre Dame Sports Medicine department in 2015 as assistant athletic trainer where she assisted with the Fighting Irish football team, attending to their daily student-athlete medical needs, and creating strategic treatment and rehabilitation plans for our student-athletes.

Hailing from Boise, Idaho initially, Tori now resides in South Bend, Indiana, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her black labrador, Bo. She is looking forward to meeting, working with, and helping everyone on the team!

Please join me in welcoming Tori to our Development family.

-Cindy Karpovs

Colleagues,

I am excited to announce that Deana (pronounced “Dee-nuh”) Northern has accepted the role of IT Solutions Consultant for the NDAA!

Deana is from the South Bend area and graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Public and Environmental Affairs. Recently, she began working towards a Master’s in Leadership (MSL) from Trine University.

Deana has been with the University since 2013, where she has provided support to ACE, the Graduate School, Notre Dame Press, ASSA, and, most recently, Student Affairs and RecSports. During her time at Notre Dame, Deana has participated in the implementation of the Irish1Card, RecSports’ move to Duncan Student Center, and she led the project to move the RecSports Fusion server to an AWS cloud solution. In the course of her work, Deana has earned a Lean Sigma Six Green Belt and has been chosen for the OIT’s Leadership Development Program.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband, Joe, and their ‘furkids.’ An avid DIYer, you can typically find her diving into some sort of project at home.

Deana will be transitioning to her new role on January 16th.

-Mark Welch

The Stewardship & Donor Relations team will soon be sending out email communications to all benefactors who have reached a cumulative giving milestone of $100,000+ and as a result qualify for recognition on our new digital recognition display in the Hesburgh Library.

In the coming weeks, all impacted benefactors will receive an initial email sent under Lou Nanni’s signature providing an introduction to the digital recognition display and sharing news that the static financial aid and Endowments for Excellence recognition displays currently located in the Eck Center and the Main Building will eventually be removed next year. This note will be shortly followed by an email sent from a member of the Stewardship & Donor Relations team to provide donors with additional details and allow them to send us feedback on their name display. Katherine Lane will be sending customized email messages to all benefactors at the $5M+ level, and Jessica Reasons will be sending a template email to all other benefactors, asking them to complete a short survey to provide approval. Primary fundraisers will be copied on both communications when the benefactor has one assigned. We hope that this will increase transparency and give fundraisers the opportunity to check-in with benefactors regarding this exciting new project and assist us in encouraging replies if needed. For all corporations and organizations that qualify for recognition, Julia Onghetich will be in touch shortly to discuss providing approvals.

We look forward to this new opportunity to provide our benefactors with an interactive and dynamic recognition display. Please feel free to reach out to Jessica Reasons, Director of Donor Recognition, if you have any questions or concerns.

Colleagues,

Please find the arrangements for Brenda Carr’s grandson, DeShawn D. Pfeifer, here. The visitation and funeral will both take place Saturday, January 11 at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Please continue to keep Brenda and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Colleagues,

Please keep Brenda Carr and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Brenda’s grandson recently passed away. We do not have word on arrangements yet, but we will post any information we receive to the UR site.