Madison For Keeps

Remember back to your time at Madison. Remember your freshman year dorm, eating at Dhall (grilled cheese Thursdays), hanging out with your FROG group... Now think about any organizations or sports teams you were involved in... How about that one Saturday night senior year...you know the one... At JMU, we alumni have had the opportunity to spend some of the best years of our lives at an amazing institution in a community that is unmatched across the country. We spent four (or more) years building relationships and growing our family of Dukes. Now imagine not having those experiences.

Since the economy has taken a downturn, the scholarship money available to current students has taken a huge hit. Not only that, but parents are losing their jobs. This means that families who once had no problem paying for tuition and living expenses now can't afford to keep their children in college. Over 200 students currently at JMU are in danger of not being able to finish their time at Madison because they can't afford to pay for the upcoming Spring semester.

So here's your chance Dukes. It's time to "Be the Change". It's time to prove that we are "All Together One". A special fund has been set up called Madison For Keeps. It will be used for emergency funds to keep JMU students in school. This is the time to band together and keep your fellow Dukes together. Just to make it a little more "real" for you, here are some quotes from their website:

"My husband owns his own business ... It is dependent on the real estate market. He has not been able to pay himself since the end of September 2008."
-A parent of a current Madison student

"My mother has been unemployed through the year. My father has worked approximately three weeks total in the past year."
-A current Madison student

"I would like to inform you that because of my father's health, he has been forced to file for disability and no longer receives a monthly income."
-A current Madison student

"My desperate need of this form of financial aid comes from my lack of funds, due to the unemployment of both parents in the past year, resulting in no income with which to fund my education."
-A current Madison student

"I was separated from my job after 27 years of service. As a result of the difficult job market, I have accepted a position which will result in a 46% reduction from my 2008 income."
-A parent of a current Madison student

"I had been with the same company for over 20 years and lost my job at the end of last year. I have been looking for a job for months now and have not had any luck at finding a job for even half of my previous salary."
-A parent of a current Madison student

"Our financial status is changing as my wife's job is not being extended into next school year."
-A parent of a current Madison student

So here we go Dukes. Now is your chance to make a difference in the life of a JMU student and let them remain a Duke. Every little bit helps. $60 can cover Internet connection fees for an on-campus resident. For those more fortunate, you can even donate $9,650, which would supplement a student's total cost of attendance for the spring semester. I'm hoping that everyone can at least give $20. That's just the cost of a few drinks or a nice dinner out. That small amount, if given by even a fraction of our alumni base, can drastically change the lives of these students in need. If you can only give $10, that's fine. This isn't going to some capital fund to sit in a bank for years, this is an immediate need where 100% will go to current students. Some employers may even match your donation. Please pass this along to all alumni you know.

Madison For Keeps website
Give Now
(make sure to specify Madison For Keeps)