On Oct. 11, Ashland University President Frederick J. Finks recognized two young boys at the annual Founders Dinner, held in the John C. Myers Convocation Center. Luke, 9, and Jack Pomfret, 7, sons of Associate Vice President of University Campaigns & Government Relations Margaret Pomfret, had made a donation to the University from money they received operating a lemonade stand earlier in the summer. The donation was $8.47.
It wasn't the amount, however, that made an impact on the Ashland University community, President Finks explained. Rather, it was the selfless nature of the gift and overall spirit of generosity that was the topic of conversation among several hundred dinner attendees that night.
"I would tell you that sometimes, even a small gift becomes a large gift, because people are inspired by a spirit of giving," President Finks said to the boys, as they sat behind a newly designed lemonade stand created just for the occasion by the University.
Originally, the two boys set up their lemonade stand with the goal to donate to the Dwight Schar College of Nursing, a new state-of-the-art facility in Mansfield. Margaret Pomfret had been working on the College of Nursing campaign for quite some time, raising millions of dollars for the cost of the construction. What grew from the boys' donation to the College of Nursing was a much larger campaign for Ashland University as a whole, which encourages individuals to make small and reoccurring gifts. In honor of both Luke and Jack Pomfret, that small gifts campaign came to be known as Project Lemonade.
Project Lemonade recognizes that every donation to Ashland University, no matter the amount, makes a difference. Like President Finks said, when added together, small gifts often become a larger one. Whether a one-time amount or a consistently reoccurring donation, every dollar counts when it comes to securing an educational future for the students at Ashland.
For more information on Project Lemonade, visit www.ashland.edu/ProjectLemonade. A unique giving page has been launched, where visitors can see the Project Lemonade story through the eyes of President Finks and Margaret Pomfret, as well as browse the Project Lemonade photo gallery. A link to providing a one-time or reoccurring donation has also been provided on the page, giving everyone the opportunity to make a difference at Ashland University, just like Luke and Jack.
Ashland University, ranked in the top 200 colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities category for 2013, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students. ###
