We are excited to announce that Maddie Helman Laidig will transition on Monday, August 29th to a full-time role as Assistant Director, Executive Events & Stewardship, reporting directly to Cristi Ganyard. Since March of 2016, Maddie has served the Special Events & Stewardship team in a temporary Event Coordinator role, skillfully and enthusiastically handling registrations, invitation and paper design, and event design and execution for a variety of University events.

A graduate of St. Mary’s College, Maddie previously was co-owner of The Initial Co., Inc., an online retailer and supplier of personalized corporate gifts. Prior to selling her business in 2015, Maddie was directly responsible for social media promotions, the company website and blog, as well as supply chain management and distribution. Maddie also brings excellent event design experience to the team, having been on the events team at Merry Me Events in Edwardsburg, Michigan.

Maddie is a native of the South Bend area and was married just two weeks ago to her husband Nate Laidig. Please join us in both congratulating Maddie on her marriage and welcoming Maddie to her new permanent role within the Special Events & Stewardship team.

Cristi Ganyard and Mary Fisher
Mary A. Fisher ‘08, M.N.A. ‘15
Interim Sr. Director, Special Events & Stewardship
Department of Development

Team,

It is with mixed emotions that I announce Vanessa Minahan will be leaving the ND Alumni Association. Vanessa and her husband, Mike, will be relocating back to California this fall to begin the next chapter in their lives. While Mike will begin at a law firm in Sacramento in early October, Vanessa has graciously offered to stay with the NDAA to see us through the Stanford Football Friday. This is one of the many examples of her dedication and passion for this team and the University.

What we’ll miss most about Vanessa is her positive energy and sincere enthusiasm to help anyone at any time. The class reps, our partners, student workers, along with all of us, have experienced Vanessa’s warm spirit and commitment to excellence. She has made such a positive impact during her time here and hers will be incredibly large shoes to fill. She will be truly missed.

We will be posting for the Event Coordinator position this week. If you know of a potential candidate, on or off campus, please let us know so that we may refer them to the posting online.

Vanessa’s last day in the office will be Friday, October 14. Please join me in wishing Vanessa and Mike the best of luck and well wishes for their future.

The Alumni Association has an open position for an Event Coordinator. If you are interested in exploring this position please visit jobs.nd.edu and/or contact Erin Thornton or Ann Moran.

Thank you,
Jen Harwell

Get a running start to your Shamrock Series and join Notre Dame Game Day before the Irish take the field at The Alamodome to run the streets of historic downtown San Antonio!

The third annual Shamrock Series 5K, will take place at 7:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, November 12th prior to Notre Dame’s matchup against Army. Runners will enjoy a scenic course, beginning and ending at the Mayor Maury Maverick Plaza in La Villita Historic Arts Village. Registration is limited to 2,000 participants.

All runners will receive a limited edition Under Armour Shamrock Series 5K race shirt and a commemorative finisher’s medal. Awards will be presented to the top two overall finishers and age division winners.

Event net proceeds from the Shamrock Series 5K will go to graduate fellowships and support for active-duty and veteran graduate students at The University of Notre Dame.

For more information and to register : http://www.active.com/san-antonio-tx/running/distance-running-races/shamrock-series-5k-2016

Jim Morrison

The Annual Giving Team encourages you to promote the following football weekend events with the recognition society benefactors in your portfolio.

Recognition Society Members can now register for events on Nevada, MSU, and Duke weekends. Registration for other games can be made beginning one month before the game. Links for registration forms are below and can be sent to donors:

Nevada Events: mynotredame.nd.edu/nev16
MSU Events: mynotredame.nd.edu/msu16
Duke Events: mynotredame.nd.edu/duke16

For assistance, benefactors, fundraisers and administrative assistants can reach out to the Donor Experience team at 574-631-5198.

Gold VIP Events
Open to Gold and $25k Members of all Recognition Societies

Intimate, limited capacity events with University leaders and faculty.

If you would like to host a Gold Member, or a prospective Gold member, at one of these events, please let me know.

A Look into the Universe: Inside Notre Dame’s Digital Visualization Theater
September 9, 2016 (Nevada weekend)
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Digital Visualization Theater, Jordan Hall of Science
Presenter: Justin R. Crepp, Freimann Assistant Professor of Physics

Take a trip through the stars with an exclusive look inside the Jordan Hall’s state-of-the art Digital Visualization Theatre. Professor Crepp will lead a fascinating presentation on some of his research and utilize the 360-degree experience of the theatre.

The Future of Residential Life at Notre Dame
September 16, 2016 (Michigan State Weekend)
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Annenberg Auditorium, Snite Museum of Art
Presenters: Margaret Morgan, Director of Residential Life and Karen Kennedy, Director of Housing
Featuring current Rectors and students

With two new residence halls opening this academic year, and new renovations scheduled for halls across campus, join members of the Residential Life team to hear about how Notre Dame’s distinctive residential tradition is impacting today’s students.

Restoring an Icon: The Hesburgh Library at Notre Dame
September 24, 2016 (Duke Weekend)
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Center for Digital Scholarship, Hesburgh Library
Presenter: Diane Parr Walker, Edward H. Arnold University Librarian

Join Diane Parr Walker on a presentation and tour of the stunning renovations in the famed Hesburgh Library.

Future Gold Events include:
Stanford Weekend: Keough School of Global Affairs (featuring R. Scott Appleby, Prof. of History and Marilyn Keough Dean)and Hard Hat Tour of Jenkins/Nanovic Halls
Miami Weekend: Tour of DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and preview of FTT Production of Frankenstein
Virginia Tech Weekend: Tour of Duncan Student Center

More information on these events will be available as registration opens for each event.

Shake Down the Thunder Tailgate
DeBartolo Quad between Mendoza and Hesburgh Center
Afternoon Games: 11:30am-3:00pm
Night Games: 2:30pm-6:30pm
$25 per adult pre-registration; $35 at the door; Children 12 and under free
Unlimited food, beer/wine/soda, tailgate games, music, and TVs showing games across the country.

This is a wonderful opportunity to greet and cultivate benefactors who you may be unable to accommodate in the Development Tailgate. Benefactors can register at the links above. Additional marketing materials for the tailgate will be available soon.

As always, please contact your Annual Giving liaison with questions or assistance in determining how these events can be used to cultivate and steward the recognition society members in your portfolio on home game weekends.

Riley Koval (West)
Brian Diss (Midwest, International)
Ian Secviar (East)
Lindahl Chase (South)
Alex Romagnolo (Athletics)
Laura Snell (Gift Planning)

Go Irish!

Some of the parking passes have stopped working at the Eddy St. Garage. If you find that your card does not work, please take a ticket from the garage entrance gate and then ask for a validation ticket from the Development front desk. Harrison, at Eddy St. Parking office will issue a new parking pass. The garage office is open 8:00-5:00. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Vicki Reeder

Academic Advancement has an open position for the Advancement Coordinator in the Law School. If you are interested in exploring this position please visit jobs.nd.edu and/or contact Ann Moran or John Lloyd.

Thank you,
Jen Harwell

Jennifer L. Harwell
Recruiting Coordinator

I am sad to report that Adrienne Neubert will be leaving the Law School Advancement team on September 9th. Adrienne will be returning to Kalamazoo, Michigan and has accepted a position as a scholarship coordinator with the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. I know nothing about the KCF, except for the fact that they have just made a great hire.

During her too brief time in Law School Advancement, Adrienne proved herself to be smart, energetic, and eager to help all of us do our jobs better. Above all, Adrienne arrived at work every day determined to make a positive difference for the Law School — and then went out and did it.

We are all excited for the next chapter in Adrienne’s life and we wish her well in this, and all her future endeavors.

thanks,

John

We are thrilled to announce several new members of the Special Events & Stewardship team, who will be joining the department on Monday, August 22^nd.

We are first excited to announce that Megan DePrimio will serve as Lead Coordinator on the Donor Communications, Recognition, & Stewardship team. Megan will be responsible for various recognition efforts, including the Memorial Trees and Benches program; assisting with the principal donor stewardship program, including capital reporting and photo books; and aiding in the acknowledgments process. Hailing from Ligonier, PA, Megan spent the last year as a marketing intern for Notre Dame Athletics. A communications specialist and sports enthusiast, Megan has her Masters of Science in Sports Management from University of the Incarnate Word, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Saint Vincent College where she was a member of the women’s basketball team. One of Megan’s hobbies is writing thank you notes, a passion which will serve her well in our stewardship efforts!

We are also thrilled to announce that Emily Mishler will be joining the Special Events & Stewardship team as Assistant Director, Special Events & Stewardship. In this role, she will work closely with Mary Fisher on a diverse array of strategic event and stewardship initiatives. A graduate of Purdue University and resident of Goshen, Emily comes to us from the Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County, where she has been serving as the Associate Director of Development & Special Events. Emily’s appointment to this role continues through September 2017.

Finally, we are delighted to welcome Eileen Varga home to Notre Dame. Eileen will join the Donor Communications, Recognition, & Stewardship team as a temporary Writer/Editor. Eileen will serve as the primary writer for benefactor acknowledgements at the presidential and vice presidential levels, as well as other writing/editing duties. Eileen spent the last three years teaching English at Saint Joseph High School in South Bend, mentoring students and developing curriculum. Prior to that role, Eileen was a media intern with the Indiana House of Representatives where she worked with the press secretary to write news releases, guest columns, e-newsletters, promotional mailings, and legislative surveys. A talented and skilled writer, Eileen has an M.A. in English from the University of Virginia and a Bachelors of Arts in English from the University of Notre Dame (’06).

Please join us in warmly welcoming these individuals to the Development team!

Sincerely,

Mary Fisher and Beth Ferlic