Generosity of Alumni Results in Phenomenal LEF Fall Phone Drive

Posted October 11, 2013 / Last updated March 11, 2016

Sum LEF Drive! Blue Jays who volunteered for the LEF fall phone campaign enjoy a “pool party” on the roof of Jesuit on the final evening after calling their classmates. In addition to a wonderful 360-degree view of the city, some Blue Jays enjoy cooling off their feet in the temporary pool while the existing one undergoes a major renovation from fresh to saltwater.

The final results of this intense three-day campaign, one in which connecting with classmates was just as important as securing pledges, revealed that 1,003 alumni pledged $346,859. Over the three nights, a total of 178 alumni volunteered to call classmates.

As of Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2,076 alumni representing graduation years 1937 through 2012 had pledged a total of $683,141 to the LEF drive. Of that amount, $308,106 has been donated by approximately 1,000 Blue Jays.

There were several alumni who volunteered all three evenings. Many of the volunteers left Jesuit with some sort of Blue Jay-logo memento as a “thank you” for a job well done.

“The alumni were incredibly generous and our volunteers are a close knit bunch of guys who really do enjoy contacting their classmates,” said Snapper Garrison ’81, who serves as the 2013-14 chairman of the drive. “Our volunteers not only connect or reconnect with their classmates, but also they are not shy about asking for a donation to this important drive. I would say that the vast majority of Jesuit graduates understand the importance of this campaign so they do not mind being called once a year.”

The LEF drive runs the entire 2014 fiscal year which began July 1, 2013 and will end June 30, 2014. In spring, a second phone drive will be held, the results of which could establish new records in terms of number of alumni donating as well as the amount of contributions.

Galleries

LEF 2014 Fall Phone Drive, Oct. 8-10, 2013

Following another delicious dinner served by Pam Falter and Jan Signorelli, volunteers like Laurie Oertling '70 took up residence in the chairs placed in the hallway outside of St. Ignatius Hall.
Kelly Burke and Renny Simno contact their '94 classmates.
Working the phones, beginning in the foreground, are Tony Glorioso '64, Bryan Wolff '82, Charles Ferro '55, Jim Moore '56, and Tom Arata '56.
The Class of '63 was ably represented by Bob Ebberman and Joe Angelico.
John Holmes, Patrick McGoey, and Chris Cox teamed up to reach out to their classmates from '89, while Brian Grenrood spent the evening talking to fellow Jays from '86.
'99 Trio: Jimmy Courtenay, Aubrey Spreen, and Kevin Truxillo worked the phones to workover their classmates.
Working the phones for the Class of '81 are Kevin Cruice, Bart Gogreve, and Pat Rooney.
John Hamilton and C.W. Lartigue prepare to contact their list of 1960 classmates.
Towards the end of each night of calling, alumni director Mat Grau '68 oversaw the giveaway of Jesuit logo items ranging from cups and shirts to hats and windbreakers. Grau assists Carl Danna in choosing his prize, which is a Jesuit logo insulated sandwich container.
Snapper Garrison '81 (left), who chairs the current LEF drive, and next year's chairman Mike Varisco '83 (right), flank a trio of rookie volunteers as the second night of calling comes to an end. In the middle are John Holmes '89, Patrick McGoey '89, and Mike Buisson '84.
Classmates from 1981, Pat Rooney, Kevin Cruice, and Snapper Garrison
Two Blue Jays take a well deserved break: Erwin Caswell ]52 and Charlie Glueck '40.
Fr. Fitzgerald stops by the table to check on the progress of David Raphael and Johnny Fitzpatrick who were busy tracking down their 1986 classmates.
LEF chairman Snapper Garrison looks over the shoulders of LEF emeritus statistician Br. Billy Dardis, S.J. '58.
Brother Dardis with one of his brothers, Jack Dardis '59
LEF coordinator Logan Diano is shocked to discover Dan DiRosa's pledge card is still tucked among those of his 1983 classmates.
Working solo on the final night of calling is Kyle Kloor '99.
Eight is Not Enough: Some of the volunteers on the final night of calling included, from left, Andrew Hamilton '07, Woody Walk '69, John Faciane '07, Gerry Gillen '78, David Raphael '86, Ed Mazoue '62, Rene Alvarez '83, and Lionel Carey '58.
As the third and final night of calling ends, volunteers head to the roof where a new deck was recently installed to compliment the pool.
Tom Bagwill, director of institutional advancement, with Tom Arata, a faithful and longtime volunteer with the Class of '56.
LEF chairman Snapper Garrison (center) is flanked by classmates Kevin Flores (left) and Skip Santos.
Robert Munch, Eric Simonson, and Mel Leveque connected with their 1982 classmates.
Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. '76, president of Jesuit, greets George Joint '68 as he enters the Student Commons.
Jeff Reuther was one of 85 alumni volunteers on the first night of the drive who enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner catered by Pam Falter and Jan Signorelli.
Tom Bagwill, director of institutional advancement, pitches in to move the dinner line along.
David Barbier '80 contacts his classmates from a comfortable chair in the hallway outside St. Ignatius Hall.
Glenn Scheyd '67 works his class's cards near the portraits of a couple of famous Blue Jays.
The Class of '85 commandered the conference room adjacent to the president's office. From left are Glenn Gillen, Rocky Daigle, Bobby Comeaux, Scott Decker, Brian Illg, and Dante V. Maraldo. Gillen and Daigle are recent past chairmen of the LEF drive.
A trio from the Class of '60: David Paysse, Chuck Staub, and Joe Baiamonte.
The Class of '68 was represented by George Joint, Jay Baudier, and Dale Hunn.
Five Jays from the Class of '88 took up a corner table in St5. Ignatius Hall. From left are Scott Hellmers, Jeff Green, Casey Cowley, Beau Baudier, and Paul Dufour.
The fall LEF drive begins, appropriately, with Mass celebrated in the Thomas Semmes Memorial Chapel, also known as the small chapel on the second floor of the administration building.
The Class of '00 was contacted by Jeff Serpas, Mike Rodriguez, and Jason Dussel.
Snapper Garrison '81 (standing) serves as chairman of the 2013-14 LEF drive and offers some assistance to his younger brother, Eb Garrison '84 and his classmates Duane DiMaggio and Kevin Barreca..
Mel Triay aqnd Taylor Casey have a good time calling their friends from the Class of '72.
The Classes of '51 and '52 join forces. Seated are the Jays from '51: Dooty Patron, John Paisant, and Roy Daigle; standing are the Jays from '52: Bob Armbruster, Bill Furlong, and Jim Murphy.
Backing up Skip Santos on the phone are his '81 classmates, Kevin Cruice and Bryan Reuter.
This quintet of Jays from '59 worked the phones. From left are Eddie Rice, Ken Adolph, Earl Higgins, Bill Eastin, and Mark Rodi.
At the end of each of the three nights of calling, tickets were pulled from a box and the lucky alums had a choice of Blue Jay goodies to bring home, including the recent book on the history of Jesuit, which was selected by John Paisant '51.
The Class of '91 was out in force. From left, Ryan Leblanc, Mario Munoz, Brad Fortier (with his daughter Kate), Ryan Gootee, and Vinnie Varisco.
Max Gruenig '06 of Koz's Restaurant in Lakeview barbecued steaks for about 60 Blue Jay volunteers on Wednesday evening, the second night of the drive.