Fundraising Campaign To Support Military Students

The "40 Dollars/40 Years Campaign" will benefit the Military Student Services Fund.

As part of Saint Leo University's 40^th anniversary celebration of educating service men and women, a special 40-hour fundraising campaign to support the university's Military Student Services Fund will kick off on July 30 at 8 a.m.

Invitations are being sent to more than 70,000 Saint Leo alumni, faculty and staff to participate by contributing $40 to celebrate the past 40 years or $80 to invest in the next 40.

Gifts can be made online at https://your.saintleo.edu/donate or by calling (352) 588-8824.

"For 40 years, Saint Leo has been privileged to offer opportunities to service men and women to pursue their college degrees – regardless of where in the world they are stationed – through on-ground and online classes," said Elizabeth Barr, associate director in the Saint Leo Annual Fund Office.

"It's a privilege to make this fundraising opportunity available to help support their dreams of earning a college degree from Saint Leo."

Opportunity to make a difference.

According to Barr, the "40 Dollars/40 Years Campaign" represents the first time in Saint Leo's history that an individual campaign is being conducted to benefit a specific initiative within the Saint Leo Fund.

The Military Student Services Fund was created earlier this year to provide a way for the Saint Leo community to give back to students who are active and retired military by designating their gift specifically for programs and services that support military students.

Fund supports Saint Leo Office for Veteran Student Services.

Monies collected for the Military Student Services Fund during the "40 Dollars/40 Years Campaign" will be used to underwrite initiatives and projects of the Veteran Student Services Office.

The office serves as the focal point for resources and support for veteran and active military students who are attending classes at University Campus, a center, or through the Center for Online Learning.

According to Jose Coll, director of Veteran Student Services, the office assists active and retired service members seeking assistance in navigating the unfamiliar world of academia by providing support, information, and a connection to resources that meet their needs as veterans, service members, and students.

To do that, Coll has developed training for faculty, staff and students. He is initiating new ways for students to connect, promoting the critical role faculty veterans can play in mentoring students, as well as developing ways to educate communities beyond Saint Leo on military culture and veterans' issues.

"Contributions to the Military Student Services Fund will strengthen our ability to serve Saint Leo's active and retired military students," said Coll.

Serving those who have served.

"Most people would agree that nowhere is the tradition of service and sacrifice more profound than among the members of our nation's military," said Barr. "

"This fundraising campaign is just one small way that we feel we can give back to our students who have served – and who continue to serve – our country."

Do you have a special reason for participating in the campaign -- perhaps to honor a family member or friend, or to just give back to those who have served?

 

Other posts you may be interested in reading:

Campaign To Support Military Students Raises $10, 247

Fund Offers Veteran Students Emergency Financial Assistance

The 5 Most Common Questions About Military Education Benefits

Photo Credit: Saint Leo University Communications