Kenyon Alumni Volunteer Bulletin

Support the things you love about Kenyon during our annual 36-hour online giving challenge, Kenyon Together, which kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 8, and wraps up at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 9. For the first time this year, the Kenyon Athletics Giving Challenge is part of Kenyon Together. There are opportunities to participate on the Hill and from afar! Learn more and make your gift early at kenyon.edu/together.

As Kenyon volunteers, you are invited to join members of the annual giving team for open office hours this week to learn more about Kenyon Together and how you can join us and earn exclusive swag in the process. No advance registration required, just drop in: 5 - 5:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, April 3 or 12 - 12:30 p.m. ET, Friday, April 4.

If you can’t join us for one of these information sessions, keep an eye out for an email and watch for new templates to be loaded into SlateVolunteer by the end of the week!

Alumni Council gathered on Friday, Feb. 21 for a productive meeting focused on key updates and volunteer initiatives. The day began with insights from college staff, including Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Jacqueline Holmes on executive orders and Senate Bill 104 (the bathroom bill), followed by Dean of Students Brian Janssen, who shared how Student Affairs is supporting students in response to the legislation and highlighted recent student achievements.

Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiative Wendy Singer provided an update on strategic initiatives, covering Protopia, experiential learning and Kenyon’s expanding partnerships. Director of Annual Giving Molly Gutridge '99 discussed plans for the Kenyon Fund, including the upcoming spring giving challenge and Director of Alumni Engagement Annie Gordon previewed Reunion Weekend. Director of Advancement Communications and Strategy Molly Vogel '00 concluded the morning with an informative session on Endowment 101.

In the afternoon, Kenyon Women Giving Back Co-Chairs Una Fogarty ’90 and Phoebe Brown ’79 shared insights from their time leading this relatively new volunteer group. The meeting continued with committee report-outs, where volunteers made great progress on their initiatives. The day concluded with the selection of this year’s alumni award winners. Full meeting minutes are available here.

The Generosity Project continues to inspire meaningful engagement within the Kenyon community. This past fall, we concluded a successful book drive to collect educational materials for Ukrainian refugees, an initiative inspired by Marci Barr Abbott '73 and Byard Clemmons '70. Their leadership and vision were instrumental in driving the project forward. Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, more than 1,000 books were collected and prepared for donation.

On March 3 and 4, eight students traveled to the International Book Project in Lexington, Kentucky, to personally deliver the books, ensuring they will reach Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Europe. Marci joined the students for the delivery and to engage with students during the distribution process. Brian Janssen, dean of students, and Don Miller, director of first-year experience, also accompanied the students on this impactful trip.

The experience concluded with a casual networking dinner hosted by Tim Stautberg '85 P'23 and Katherine Stautberg '87 P'23. Fellow alumni Kent Wellington '88, his wife Alexia Zigoris and Jeni Heis '98 joined the gathering, providing students with a valuable opportunity to connect with Kenyon alumni engaged in service and philanthropy.

This spring, the work of the Generosity Project continues with “Habitat on the Hill,” taking place on Thursday, April 17. Students, faculty and staff will sign up for shifts to paint playhouses on campus, which will be donated to local families. This hands-on initiative reflects Kenyon’s ongoing commitment to community service and outreach.

Additionally, Alumni Council and Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies Royal Rhodes, in partnership with the Generosity Project, are hosting “Books for Books,” over Reunion Weekend. This special event will offer alumni the opportunity to add a book, previously owned by one of their beloved Kenyon professors, to their own personal library. In exchange, Alumni Council will encourage a suggested donation to support the Kenyon Library Textbook Fund, which ensures all students have free access to course books.

Reunion Weekend Registration Closes Saturday, May 3 at 5 p.m. ET