As the countdown to All In Day of Giving 10th anniversary begins, students are putting their spirit to good use on the phone. Students are asking alumni to give back to the programs that impacted their time at college through the annual Phone-a-Thon, a tradition that brings together current and former members of sports teams.
Since it was first started in 2015, the Phone-a-Thon has changed several times. The program,
originally operating out of an East Campus computer lab, experienced setbacks before returning in March 2020 and being shut down again because of COVID-19. It didn’t come back in full force until October 2023, and now it lasts six weeks in the spring and fall.
“The idea behind the Phone-a-Thon is creating a personalized touchpoint for our alumni and
donors,” said Katelynn Hanna, the Director of Annual Giving. “Getting gifts by making calls is
certainly a great thing, but to me, phonathon is so much more. It creates an opportunity for
donors and alumni to connect with current students in a more personalized way.”
At every Phone-a-Thon event, students make meaningful connections with alumni, which
shows how rewarding these calls are. Football, softball, baseball, and cheerleading have all
taken turns answering the phones, with many more teams to go. Each dollar raised helps provide essential resources for their teams, from new equipment to travel expenses and training opportunities
One particularly moving moment occurred when a student caller connected with a scholarship
donor who had created a fund in memory of their late son, a former Lock Haven student.
“The donor shared the story of their son, who he was, his short time here at Lock Haven, and
the reason they decided to create that scholarship in his name,” Hana said. “The student was so
touched and had no idea of the story behind the scholarship. Meaningful connections like that
are what it is all about.”
During the 24-hour All In Day of Giving fundraising event, supporters, friends, and alumni come together to make the largest possible donation to their selected charity. In order to spread information and create excitement among alumni who might not be aware of the possible impact of their donation, the Phone-a-Thon is an essential part of the lead-up to this event.
With plans to modernize the process by moving to an automated system like VanillaSoft, the
Phone-a-Thon continues to evolve, ensuring that Lock Haven’s tradition of community and
support remains strong.
“For Lock Haven, the Phone-a-Thon means so much in connecting generation after generation
of current students and alumni,” Hana said. “Each individual who comes here has similar
sentiments about their experiences. What a great opportunity to bond over those shared
experiences through phone calls with current students experiencing what has always been that
traditional Lock Haven vibe.”
I remember doing the Phone-A-Thon in like 1993. An alumnus donated $500 so someone rang a bell for me in celebration haha.