The Chadron State Foundation kicked off its annual fall fund campaign on Wednesday, once again using a good-natured competitions between teams of local leaders and college faculty and staff to raise money to help the college.
CSC development officer Leslie Bargen is this year’s campaign organizer, and says this year’s theme…Because of You…recognizes the community support that makes the college strong.
This year’s fall drive has 124 volunteers divided into 20 teams…10 from the campus and 10 from the community…who will be contacting businesses and individuals in the Chadron area for donations.
Serving as the chairs of the community teams are Tina McLain of Chadron Community Recreation and Jason Carnahan, a loan officer at Security First Bank in Chadron.
The campus team leaders are faculty member Dr Donna Ritzen and Bargen’s husband, men’s basketball coach Brent Bargen. Chairs serve two year, and this is the second year for both McLain and and Ritzen.
Leslie Bargen says the teams wasted no time in getting down to business and contacting the individuals and businesses on their lists for donations, with some already turned in.
Bargen says while there’s no set dollar goal, she’s hoping the drive will top last year’s total of $188,000 raised during the active phase of the campaign…although contributions come in throughout the school year.
The active phase normally runs 2 weeks, but Bargen says CSC’s upcoming fall break led to a decision to extend the drive an extra week this year with the turn-in deadline set for Halloween afternoon.
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