Washington University St. Louis - Catholic Student Center
Catholic Student Center
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri
Washington University in St. Louis Celebrates Success!
The Catholic Student Center (CSC) at Washington University proved that sometimes raising money is as easy as asking for it.
In their first ever Matching Gift Weekend, the Catholic community generously gave $55,000 in the Easter Offertory collection to support campus ministry activities on campus. Three families agreed to match up to $24,000 from the three Easter liturgies and the challenge initially brought in a combined total of $79,000!
However, the story does not end there.
After Mass that weekend, a parent visiting the CSC for the first time was so inspired by the faith community that an additional pledge was made to match the entire amount of the offertory. The grand total of the CSC Matching Gift Weekend was $134,000!
Although financial support for campus ministry at Washington University has generally remained solid during the economic downturn, staff additions and changes to past development efforts required the CSC to entertain alternate development strategies to make up for a budget shortfall before the fiscal year-end in June. The CSC took a cue from another Petrus client, St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M University and made plans for their first Matching Gift Weekend.
Director Fr. Gary Braun and Director of Advancement, Linda Domeyer, chose the Easter weekend because attendance is exceptionally good and that weekend often welcomes many visitors to the CSC. In past years, the Easter weekend usually garners about $8000 in collections.
The Catholic Student Center at Washington University in St. Louis has been a Petrus Client since 2007.
