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The Sussex Fund: Strength In Numbers
The Sussex Fund team with graduating phonathon caller, Jelena Šerbić, at the 2013 graduation ceremony
A record-breaking £1/4 million has been raised in gifts and pledges through the University’s telephone fundraising campaign in the last 12 months. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and the passion of our students, we were able to secure the highest ever number of regular gifts to the Sussex Fund. Gifts of this nature are vital in helping students most in need and the regularity enables the student support team to plan with confidence for the year ahead.
This year, for the first time, the Annual Fund team received sponsorship from local businesses. The Duke of York’s Picturehouse and Co-operative supermarket, based on campus, have supported the work of our student callers by offering vouchers as a reward for all their hard work throughout the phonathons.
As well as enhancing the student experience on campus, one of the central purposes of the Sussex Fund is to ensure that our students remain at the University and complete their degrees. It is our belief that no student should have to leave because they can’t afford to stay. Our friends and alumni have helped us increase this year’s retention rate to its highest level in 10 years, to nearly 97%.
Importantly, these calls also provide an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with the University, recall fond memories and stay in touch with life at Sussex today. If we were not able to speak to you last year and are keen to take part in this Autumn’s campaign, then please contact our Annual Fund Coordinator, Alex Bell at a.bell@sussex.ac.uk or telephone 01273 877707.