On the front porch
The We Soar campaign has a lofty philan-thropic goal, but this effort will only accomplish its aim if we grow the number of Flyers who engage deeply with UD.
I don’t have to look far to see who’s taking the lead: our students, including this past May’s graduating seniors.
During this spring’s One Day, One Dayton giving day, the Class of 2023 topped every class with 249 gifts. In May, a record 17 seniors graduated as new members of the Front Porch Society, which honors those who make gifts of any size over three consecutive fiscal years.
Laura Wilker, Daniel Montgomery and Reagan Stitt speak openly about why they want others to join them on the front porch as members of this giving society. They’re deeply committed to the values of UD and, as students, took their academics and experiential learning to heart. You name it, they did it — leading retreats, doing pro bono consulting for nonprofits, managing a piece of the University’s endowment, serving as president’s emissaries, interning and traveling abroad.
“ ... when I think about the broader picture, my true passion lies in participation.”
“I have a lot I am passionate about — agriculture, sustainability, community building, UD basketball — but when I think about the broader picture, my true passion lies in participation,” says Laura, a new formulation process development engineer at Corteva Agriscience in Indianapolis.
“We won’t see impactful change unless we put in the effort and take a seat at the table. By donating to One Day, One Dayton, I got to support organizations that were most impactful to me but also provided an opportunity for future UD students to pursue their own passions.”
Daniel, now a financial adviser for Plante Moran in Columbus, Ohio, shared a house his senior year with students he met during Callings, a summer retreat for first-year students who want to explore faith and vocation. Here, he found lifelong friends, his own calling — and a desire to give back to the program.
“UD was a springboard into a professional career. The values, academics and work ethic I received from being a student at our Catholic, Marianist university will easily affect my day-to-day life after graduation — and I can see myself contributing into the future and reaching out to my fellow alumni for their support, too,” Daniel says.
Reagan’s father and grandfather graduated from UD, and giving back is part of their DNA. Her grandparents, Jim Stitt ’71 and Carol Stitt, started the Stitt Scholars Program that offers paid internships for students collaborating with entrepreneurs and start-up companies.
“As a student, you don’t have to give a large amount,” says Reagan, an incoming human capital advisory associate at KPMG in Chicago who supported Flyer Consulting as a student. “My family always encouraged me to give back in one way or another. You can later give back in greater ways.”
Laura, Daniel and Reagan discovered their purpose at UD. As students, they felt nurtured and supported. Now, as members of the Front Porch Society, they’re helping other students soar, too.