Sunday, Apr 23, 2017
In the fall of 2016, Rider University’s Board of Trustees announced it would match, dollar for dollar, every new or increased gift to The Rider Fund and The Rider Scholarship Fund up to $250,000 through June 30.
The goal of the Trustee Challenge is to raise an additional $500,000 for the Annual Fund, which supports student scholarships, study abroad programs, student-faculty research projects, multicultural programming, career services initiatives, campus improvements and much more.
Through mid-April, 1,575 people have made new or increased gifts in response to the Challenge.
Brittany Blythe ’14 is one of them.
She believes her time at Rider had a significant impact on where she is today. She is currently studying forensic psychology at the Rosemont College at Villanova and works for The Crozer-Keystone Health System as a mental health case manager.
“I am so grateful to Rider University for helping me get to where I am today,” Blythe says. “I was able to walk into interviews and differentiate myself because of my legal studies minor and my leadership certificate. I was also armed with recommendations from my professors, with whom I formed strong connections.”
Blythe fell in love with Rider on her first visit to Lawrenceville, and she knew that at Rider she would have the opportunity to build close relationships with students, faculty and staff.
“As a first-generation student from a low-income family, it was important for me to choose a university that would support my goals and shape me into a well-rounded professional. At Rider I was able to receive that,” says Blythe. “Rider was not just a university, it was my home and the staff was my family. I was able to rely on professors, staff and friends to help get me through the transition, help me build my resume and foster connections with professionals that I would’ve never got on my own.”
A psychology major, Blythe was involved in the Residence Hall Association (RHA) Executive Board and the Leadership Development Program, served as a research assistant, participated in the Annual Giving phonathon campaign and more. The phonathon played a key role in understanding the importance of personally giving back to Rider after graduation because she saw firsthand the difference alumni support can make.
When she heard about the Trustee Challenge, she knew that she wanted to participate to show how grateful she was to donors who had helped shape her college experience. At the same time, Blythe also learned of the new BOLD (Broncs of the Last Decade) alumni program and the BOLD President’s Club leadership giving levels. Having just started her career, the BOLD President’s Club leadership levels of giving allowed her to make a meaningful impact on current students at an amount within her budget.
“I wanted to help students who might be going through a difficult financial time, like I did,” Blythe says. “Financial aid does not always cover all the unique opportunities that come up, and I know that had it not been for gifts to Rider I would not have been able to take advantage of the opportunities and participate in all the activities and programs that I did.”
To take part in the Trustee Challenge, visit www.rider.edu/trusteechallenge. For more information, contact Director of Annual Giving Donna Green at [email protected] or 609-896-5370.
For more information about the BOLD alumni program, please visit www.rider.edu/BOLD.