Kingston student Festus Olusanya explains why the Annual Fund calling campaign matters to the student fundraisers
Posted Wednesday 10 December 2014
Radiography student Festus Olusanya takes callsIt's no big secret among Kingston students that a place on the telephone fundraising team is well worth the effort. Not only do they take great pride in raising money for the Annual Fund's priority areas – student hardship, postgraduate scholarships, research, and now, bursaries for care leavers – but it's also a fabulous opportunity for them to connect and learn from our amazing alumni.
Third year Radiography student Festus Olusanya is a veteran of five campaigns and many of our alumni will have shared their experiences with him. Festus now leads from the front in his role as Calling Room Supervisor. He learned on his very first campaign that this was more than a part time job that helped pay the rent.
"To make ends meet and make sure I can get through my course, I'm currently holding down three jobs. But coming into work on the telephone campaign really doesn't feel like work. I can't recall a single session where I've not learned something amazing or been inspired by an alumnus.
That they seem to enjoy these calls just as much as me, reminiscing and talking about how Kingston University was ‘back in the day', gives me a tremendous sense of pride in what we do. And on this campaign I've been given the added responsibility of running the shifts and coaching the new fundraisers. What I quickly realised is that the best coaches are the alumni – it's from them you learn what a tremendous place Kingston is and the kind of impact it can have on your life ... it's easy to ask for money when you sense that someone is so inspired and proud of the University!"
The Autumn 2014 Annual Fund team In fact, through generous donations from our alumni, the Autumn 2014 Annual Fund calling campaign has raised a fantastic £67,000 so far. And with pledges still to arrive, it looks set to raise even more. This is a tremendous boost as we approach the £1million pound mark for the Annual Fund.
If you too want to make a difference to Kingston University and today's students, you can make a donation here. Or if you would like to learn more about the Annual Fund and its priorities, please contact Annual Fund Manager Jason Barlow at j.barlow@kingston.ac.uk, or give him a call on 020 8417 3112.
