Volunteer fundraising effort begins

There's a lot of building getting under way at Chadron State College this fall, including the Chadron State Foundation's annual fall campaign. The campaign volunteer leaders, Jason Carnahan, Tina McLain, Donna Ritzen and Brent Bargen, are dressed for the occasion. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)
There's a lot of building getting under way at Chadron State College this fall, including the Chadron State Foundation's annual fall campaign. The campaign volunteer leaders, Jason Carnahan, Tina McLain, Donna Ritzen and Brent Bargen, are dressed for the occasion. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Published:

The Chadron State Foundation’s annual fall fundraising effort is under way, with volunteers hitting the street to request donations from area businesses and Chadron State College employees.

 The campaign kicked off Wednesday, Oct. 10, in with a luncheon for its 124 volunteers. The volunteers, half CSC employees and half other community members, will raise money through the afternoon of Halloween to benefit CSC programs and scholarships. Last year’s volunteers helped raise more than $200,000 for the campaign.

“It’s impossible to measure how much Chadron State benefits from the work of our campaign volunteers,” said foundation development officer Leslie Bargen who organizes the effort. “Not only do they raise money, but they serve as great ambassadors for the institution.”

Each year, four volunteers are designated to lead the campaign, while the others are divided into teams of six – 10 groups of area business people, and 10 consisting of college employees.

This year’s volunteer leaders are community members Tina McLain and Jason Carnahan, and CSC employees Dr. Donna Ritzen and Brent Bargen.

The four were among a list of speakers who spoke about the importance of giving, and what makes CSC special. Many made reference to the campaign theme “Because of You …” in their remarks.

Those at the luncheon heard first-hand how support to the foundation has helped three current students, Justy Bullington of Mullen, Neb., Dominic Morris of Rialto, Calif., and Sean Munger of Imperial, Neb.

Dr. Randy Rhine, CSC interim president, and Connie Rasmussen, director of the foundation, also spoke.

Rasmussen noted that the foundation provided more than $1 million in campus support last year, an achievement she once thought would never happen in her lifetime.

-Justin Haag

Category: Campus News, Chadron State Alumni & Foundation, Historical