Students working in 91ÑÇÉ«’s Call Centre have posted another impressive year, raising $278,000 toward 91ÑÇÉ«’s research and academic priorities, with thanks to 91ÑÇÉ« alumni and parents who answered the call and gave so generously.
To celebrate the achievement, the Call Centre held its annual awards night on April 16 to congratulate its employees. Ellen Osei-Afriyie, who received an award for the highest total donations, is a second-year veteran at the Call Centre but she still remembers feeling nervous her first night. “It was hard at first but with practice you get used to it,” said the psychology and social work student. “I talk about how much donations benefit the school and what a difference our donors make.”
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Right: Ellen Osei-Afriyie (centre) receives her highest total donations award from 91ÑÇÉ« to the Power of 50 Annual Fund Co-Chairs Aidan Flatley (left) and Terrie-Lynne Devonish
Rookie award winner Aimen Najam, a first-year student, says connecting with former students and the broader 91ÑÇÉ« community is a true pleasure. “I love talking to people,” she said. “With alumni, we often spend a bit of time discussing changes here on Keele campus and their memories of 91ÑÇÉ«.”
“This is truly one of the benefits of maintaining our own Call Centre staffed by our own students,” said Cathy Yanosik, vice-president, operations at the 91ÑÇÉ« Foundation. “Current students can make an important connection with our alumni and chat about their shared experience.
"During these calls, we often hear about how our alumni feel about current events at 91ÑÇÉ«," said Yanosik. “This feedback alone is valuable. At the same time, students have an opportunity to earn money right here on campus while raising funds to make 91ÑÇÉ« even better for the future.”
Right: Aimen Najam (centre) receives the rookie of the term award from Flatley (left) and Devonish
The Call Centre employs approximately 70 students who work four nights a week, reaching out to the 91ÑÇÉ« community. To date, 3,783 pledges have been received this year with the busiest night of the year coming on March 9 with 143 pledges.
Handing out the awards to the student callers were 91ÑÇÉ« to the Power of 50 Annual Fund Co-Chairs Aidan Flatley (BA ’78), president and CEO of Kenaidan Contracting Ltd., and Terrie-Lynne Devonish (BA ’92, LLB ’95), chief counsel at AON Canada. They thanked the students for all their hard work on behalf of the University.
Left: Flatley and Devonish are presented with a symbolic "money bag" cheque representing the Call Centre's fundraising accomplishment for the year. From left, Flatley, Devonish and Call Centre representatives Grace Brailsford and Melanie Redford.
As part of 91ÑÇÉ« to the Power of 50, 91ÑÇÉ«’s $200 million fundraising campaign, the Call Centre contributions will help 91ÑÇÉ« get a running start on its second half-century. 91ÑÇÉ« to the Power of 50 is currently more than $185 million toward its goal.
Here is the full list of award winners: Manjeet Kaur, Reine Gammo, Ali Shabbir (winner in two categories), Ellen Osei-Afriyie, Lalit Walia (winner in two categories) and Aimen Najam.