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Soaring stronger, together

Soaring stronger, together

Kasey Renee Shaw January 08, 2025

At 100 years old, Ann Fitzgerald Wourms ’46 knows UD better than most, so she wasn’t exactly surprised to learn that UD’s We Soar campaign reached its engagement goal of 2,800 new volunteer Woman sits in chairleaders in defined roles, achieving a campaign objective by late fall 2024 — almost a year ahead of the campaign’s June 2025 conclusion. 

“If I know one thing, [it’s that] Flyers are always there for one another,” laughed Wourms. 

As the University’s most senior volunteer and a dedicated Golden Flyers committee member with 15 consecutive years of giving, Wourms embodies the spirit of lifelong engagement — something that she believes defines the Flyer family. 

“No matter how much has changed, it still feels like home, and the people are like family.”

From her days as a student during World War II — when women weren’t yet permitted to live on campus — to attending Golden Flyers luncheons, Wourms’ connection to UD has only grown over the years. Nowadays, she attends committee meetings and campus celebrations, often accompanied by her children (her son, Robert Wourms ’72, is a Golden Flyer himself), who help ensure she remains an active part of the UD community she treasures.

“It’s an honor to stay involved and give back to the place that gave me so many friends, opportunities and wonderful [memories],” Wourms explained.

Volunteers engage with UD at varying levels of commitment, often deepening and evolving their involvement as they discover new interests and as University needs emerge. This dynamic, multigenerational approach has become a hallmark of UD’s volunteer opportunities, including advisory council service and student mentorship to alumni community leadership and Golden Flyers network building. Through these diverse pathways, each volunteer crafts a personal and meaningful contribution to the University’s mission.

The early achievement of the volunteer milestone accompanies similar successes as UD continues to surpass  the campaign’s two other goals: $400 million in funding and 19,250 new Front Porch Society members. These accomplishments reflect the dedication of Flyers building an even stronger future for the University — a future that, thanks to volunteers like Wourms, remains firmly rooted in the values of community and service that have defined UD for generations.

“[UD] has always been about community,” said Wourms. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Progress as the campaign continues

  • $415.2M

    $400 million was our comprehensive campaign giving goal.

  • 20,373

    19,250 new Front Porch Society members was our participation goal.

  • 2,841

    2,800 new volunteer leaders in defined roles was our engagement goal. *numbers as of Nov. 14, 2024


A version of this article appears in print in the Winter 2024-45 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 30. EXPLORE THE ISSUEMORE ONLINE

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