Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore announced in a video on Tuesday the Senior Class Gift Challenge would give a student who donates a chance to throw the first pitch of a Red Sox game.
Elmore said if the Class of 2012 meets its goal of 2,012 donors, a student will be randomly selected at the Senior Breakfast on May 3 to walk to the pitcher’s mound with Rhett. The game, which is listed as one of the Senior Week events, is scheduled for May 15.
“You get to stand on Fenway Park,” Elmore said in a phone interview. “Even if you’re not a baseball fan, it’s a pretty exhilarating experience.”
The Class Gift campaign is considered the students’ first step into the community of BU alumni, said Allie Rowe, manager of Student Philanthropy.
“We hope that the Class of 2012 will give to the Class Gift Campaign because they see the value in supporting the University and being a part of something,” Rowe, a Graduate School of Management student, said.
Elmore, who took suggestions from seniors participating in discussion groups, described the 2012 Class Gift committee’s decision as “legendary.”
“It’s Fenway Park,” Elmore said. “Even New York Yankee fans have to give props to Fenway Park.”
Class Gift Committee Chair Fernando Limbo said neither the prize nor the monetary amount of the donation matters as much as the idea of contributing. The campaign will focus on fostering a spirit of giving among BU students.
“It’s about participating, thinking about your four years here at BU and trying to decide which organizations and associations really influenced your time,” the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences senior said.
Seniors can designate their donation to a specific program or organization, Limbo said.
“Our hope is that as a senior you want to give back to organizations so they can continue the same kind of community they gave you,” Limbo said.
Rowe said she hopes students reach their goal and help BU stand out among other universities.
College of Arts and Sciences senior TJ Hanes said he thinks the 2012 challenge is better than the last one.
“I think it’s a really awesome idea,” Hanes said in an email interview. “While I would love to see Dean Elmore swimming in the Charles again, I would much rather be able to throw [a first] pitch at Fenway.”
As a baseball fan, College of Communication senior Jeanine Kutil said she appreciated this year’s incentive.
“I think it’s a great gift for any Bostonian and Red Sox lover,” she said.
Student Union President Howard Male said the challenge is not only meant to cause incentive to donate, but also to help students reflect on what they’ve gained from BU.
“All of that really sends the right message,” Male, a School of Hospitality and SMG senior, said. “We come here to learn, but it’s also about the experiences that we have.”
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