Launched in October 2020 with the express purpose of bolstering the University’s commitment to need-blind admissions for undergraduate students—particularly propelled by the pandemic-driven economic hardships experienced by so many families—Be a Beacon quickly met its $125 million target. Campaign leaders reset the goal to $200 million in April of last year, and when that objective was reached, upped it to $250 million by this May 31.
“We raised the goal and extended the campaign in response to the overwhelming support of our donor community and the continued needs of our students, recognizing there was still significant momentum and desire to support this financial aid campaign beyond the original goal,” said Vice President for Development Amy Yancey. “We are deeply grateful to our champions of financial aid who have made the dreams of Eagles today, and for generations to come, a reality.”
BC is one of only 21 United States private colleges and universities whose admission policy is need-blind—admitting students on the merit of their applications, not on their ability to afford tuition—and which also meets the full demonstrated financial requirements of all qualified undergraduates. Announcing the campaign in the fall of 2020, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., noted that financial aid and endowed scholarships were more critical than ever, as adverse economic conditions and loss of family income had made it increasingly difficult for deserving applicants to enroll at BC.
His call was answered: More than 30,000 donors have contributed to date, providing the resources to award more than 3,355 scholarships so far.
I’m very proud of our fundraising success, and even prouder of how many members of our BC community, including every single University trustee, have answered the call to support our students. Financial aid donors are truly beacons, making the path to BC a little brighter for our Eagles.
“Connecting with scholarship students has been one of my most rewarding BC experiences,” said University Trustee Susan Martinelli Shea ’76, co-chair of Be a Beacon. “For my Be a Beacon co-chairs and me, it was important to not just personally support the campaign, but to encourage others to give as well. I’m very proud of our fundraising success, and even prouder of how many members of our BC community, including every single University trustee, have answered the call to support our students. Financial aid donors are truly beacons, making the path to BC a little brighter for our Eagles.”
In addition to Shea, a Board of Regents co-chair, the other BC trustees serving as campaign chairs are: Board of Regents Co-chair Marc P. Seidner ’88, John F. Fish, and Philip W. Schiller ’82.
The selection of the word “beacon” in the campaign’s title was strategic, explained Senior Vice President for University Advancement James Husson.
“We have used ‘beacon’ and its related imagery of shining a light in many of our materials since the ‘Light the World’ campaign, including naming our advancement publication Beacon, so it was a fitting metaphor for how donor support illuminates a path for our students, and calls our community to ‘be’ the beacon that our students need,” said Husson.
To reinforce the message at the Be a Beacon campaign’s public launch event, University Trustee Steve J. Pemberton ’89, M.A. ’19, H ’15—author of A Chance in the World and The Lighthouse Effect: How Ordinary People Can Have an Extraordinary Impact in the World—shared his deeply personal story of a childhood “lost in the gaps of the foster care system,” how he found a home at BC, and then reminded attendees of the powerful impact scholarships can have on students’ lives.
“It is our personal responsibility, an expression of Jesuit values and our mission to serve others, to work to provide access to a BC education for all. Our world needs well-formed citizens who are steeped in their education and have a reflective view of their identity and purpose.”
While every donor has their own reason to give and every gift has its own story, explained Yancey, there is a common thread: a faith in the power of a BC education to transform not only individuals but the world, and a conviction that this opportunity belongs to everyone.
For BC Trustee Michael C. and Kate Ascione, both Class of 1993 members, their gift reflected a commitment to the greater good: “It is our personal responsibility, an expression of Jesuit values and our mission to serve others, to work to provide access to a BC education for all. Our world needs well-formed citizens who are steeped in their education and have a reflective view of their identity and purpose.”
Jennifer and Steven Capshaw ’93 share a similar belief in the power of student formation to promote change and cited it as their motivation to give.
“At BC I learned there are things in life more important than yourself,” said Steven. “BC challenges young adults to use their talents in service of others, making the world a better place. We want to help close the gap to make these opportunities available to those who work just as hard but have fewer resources.”
For more about the Be a Beacon Campaign for Financial Aid, go to beabeacon.bc.edu.
Phil Gloudemans | University Communications | April 2022