Please join me in congratulating Leah Corachea on her recent engagement with Scott Lanier! We wish them a happy and loving future together.
Best,
Shelby
Catch my family and I on tonight’s episode of Little People, Big World. We were given an incredible opportunity to get our kids together, to talk growing up and raising kids with disabilities.
TLC, or Discovery+, 9PM #DEIU
-Jessica Witous
I am delighted to share that, in recognition of her extraordinary work, Colleen Cross Quinn has been promoted to Foundation Relations Director on Team CFR!
Colleen started with Foundation Relations as a graduate fellow, transitioning to our postdoc, then Assistant Director, and most recently, Associate Director. It has been a great privilege to watch her develop into a remarkable teammate and fundraiser, whose unceasing curiosity and drive have made us all better at what we do. She is on track to surpass her FY23 production goal before the end of the calendar year, but I don’t doubt that she will continue to push forward for the benefit of the University.
Please join me in congratulating Colleen for this well-deserved promotion!
Best,
Amanda Retartha
Senior Director, Foundation Relations
The Holiday Gift Auction has been the signature fundraising event for the Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC) for more than a decade. The auction supports RCLC’s youth programs, while providing an enjoyable event for the community.
The auction was held completely online in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID restrictions, but we are excited to announce this year’s event will feature an in-person live auction at the RCLC, in addition to an online silent auction.
The online auction will go live on Sunday, November 27, at 12:00 a.m. and run through Saturday, December 3, at 5:00 p.m. Bidders can register for the online auction ahead of time to be ready to bid when the auction opens.
We hope you will also join us in person at RCLC on Saturday, December 3, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. as we rekindle our holiday tradition of gathering as a community to enjoy the live auction, refreshments, music, raffles and fellowship. Andy Kostielney, former assistant director of RCLC, will join us as auctioneer. In addition, the silent auction items will be on display at RCLC while online bidding continues.
If you are interested in live bidding, you can check in ahead of time to receive a bidder number, or simply check in when you arrive. Be sure to bring your smart phone to bid on both live and silent auction items.
Proceeds will fund RCLC’s youth programs, including a spring youth trip to New York City. We hope you will share this information with your family and friends — all are welcome!
Happy bidding!
Jennifer Knapp Beudert
The Prospect Management team is excited to welcome Alexandra DeWeese and Brigette Kinney as two new Consultants working with the Southwest and East teams, respectively.
Alexandra (Alex) comes to us from University Enterprises and Events where she helped build that department’s sales team from the ground up. Alex started at the University in 2014 in Student Services with the Mendoza College of Business where she was a Program Manager. She then moved to UEE’s Business Development team where she has been since 2017. Alex earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ball State University and is an Indianapolis native. She and her husband, Chad, reside in South Bend, with their three children: Emerson (5), Trey (3), and Kennedy (7 months).
It’s also a bittersweet time in the Development Coordinator (DC) world. While we are thrilled for Brigette Kinney’s promotion, we note the loss of Brigette as Regional Associate (RA) on the team in which she’s served as a natural leader since 2015. A graduate of Indiana University, Brigette has consistently applied her skills in strategy, project management, process improvement, and training. She was one of two people to re-envision and reconstruct the DC Training Toolkit that has proven invaluable to the team, and she has actively contributed to the efforts of the RA Guiding Coalition. As an excellent partner with her Regional Directors and the broader Development team, Brigette has continuously identified value-add opportunities toward fundraising effectiveness.
In their new roles as Prospect Management Consultants, Alex and Brigette will work closely with Shelby and George in building and managing portfolios, while providing actionable insights and recommendations on the path to goal. They will start with the team and begin their onboarding process on December 5, and will likely join in regional meetings starting after the new year.
Congratulations Brigette, and Welcome Alex!
Jonathan Retartha, Anita Sareen, Lori Tinkey
Friends and Colleagues,
I write to tell you that Mike Brown is no longer with the University, effective Wednesday, November 16th.
We thank him for his years of service to the University and wish him well in his next chapter. All benefactor needs or questions should be directed to me. Thanks in advance for your collaboration.
-Riley Koval
Friends,
I’m thrilled to welcome back Zach Thurston to the Annual Giving team in a new role as Solutions Manager starting November 28th. After a stint serving as Marketing Automation Manager at Indianapolis-based software company Bloomerang, Zach has the following to say about his return to Notre Dame:
“I didn’t think I’d miss this place as much as I did during the six months I was gone. Very excited to be back.”
We’re excited, too, Zach. Now, onward and upward as we close out calendar year-end!
– Brandon Tabor
Please join me in extending sincere condolences to Meghan Walsh, our Prospect Management Consultant for the Southern region. Her father, Daniel Roche O’Connor, Jr., passed away in Salisbury, MD this Saturday at the age of 88. Daniel was a Navy veteran who gave over 30 years of service to his country in various government roles. A Notre Dame alum from the class of 1959, Daniel was blessed to spend the last day of his life with his children cheering the Irish to victory.
More information about Daniel’s life and funeral arrangements can be found here: https://www.bradshawandsonsfuneralhome.com/obituary/daniel-roche-oconnor-jr?lud=F0CE2E8DC804069E49BE0F2B395F3397
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
-Jonathan Retartha