Krista Purvis Forys ‘98
Looking at the question another way,
what makes people decide to support
Siena Heights University?
Brings a winning attitude to the Siena Heights annual fund
KPF: People who give to Siena Heights
do so because they truly care about the
University and its mission. I find that
people are usually happy to give to Siena
Heights once they realize that the Annual
Fund helps provide the operating budgets
for every department and program, every
sports team, every off-campus center,
even financial aid. I received significant
scholarship assistance as a student—and I
had no idea where that money came from.
Now I know it came from our donors. For
many alumni, knowing they can designate
an annual fund gift for scholarships makes
a big difference.
As a student, Krista Purvis Forys ’98
brought intensity and excitement to the
volleyball court. A San Diego, CA, native
who transferred to Siena from University of
Toledo, OH Krista was an All-WHAC and
All-Region setter, leading the Saints to the
regional tournament for the first time ever
in 1997.
Today, she’s back on campus as director
of the Annual Fund, determined to set
some new records in Siena’s yearly fund
raising effort. In a recent conversation,
Krista reflected on her new challenges as
a member of the SHU fund raising team.
Where does the rest of the money
come from?
KPF: It comes from gifts, grants and the
Annual Fund—which means it comes
from our alumni and friends who support
Siena Heights year after year. The Annual
Fund covers the difference between tuition
income and operating expenses. Everyone
who makes a gift of any size to the Annual
Fund helps provide a Siena Heights education to today’s students, on the main
campus and at our degree completion
centers.
What are some of your goals with the
Why are you so excited about giving to Annual Fund?
KPF: I want to increase awareness of
Siena Heights?
the Annual Fund among our students,
KPF: That’s easy. I know I can’t make a big
gift at this point in my life, but we have so
many alumni—and if we all make whatever
gift we can, it adds up. I tell people, just
give what you can. It WILL make a difference. And every gift to the Annual Fund will
help us meet the Kresge Challenge!
Do many alumni support the Siena
Heights Annual Fund?
Were you aware of the annual fund as
a student?
KPF: No, not at first. I thought tuition covered everything and paid all the bills at
Siena. It never occurred to me that Siena
needed to raise money. After I began working with (then Annual Fund director) Jeff
Freshcorn, I gained some understanding of
the Annual Fund. One of my goals now is
to make every student aware of where the
money to operate SHU comes from.
You’re saying tuition DOESN’T cover
the cost of a student’s education?
KPF: No, it doesn’t. Tuition covers only
a portion of the cost of paying faculty
and staff, maintaining facilities, providing
computers and library resources, and
sustaining programs and services. When
you factor in financial aid, tuition covers
even less.
KPF: We have many loyal contributors
among our alumni. But compared to other
colleges and universities, we have a pretty
low participation rate among our alumni.
We have wonderful al [[