Release Date 07 March 2012

The lives of current and future University of Reading students have been boosted thanks to the generosity of its graduates who have donated a record-breaking £233,000 to the latest Annual Fund telephone fundraising campaign.

These donations support a range of academic and extra-curricular projects on and around campus, and provide essential bursaries and hardship grants to those who would otherwise not be able to consider a University education

Over the last four weeks, a team of 50 current students telephoned Reading alumni to update them on University life and to seek their support for the Annual Fund. Almost half of the alumni spoken to chose to make a donation to the spring 2012 campaign, with over 700 gifts ranging from single contributions of £20 to regular Direct Debits of over £1,000 a year.

This campaign marks the most successful telethon to have taken place at the University since the Annual Fund was established in 2004. In the last eight years, over £3.1 million has been raised from 6,000 donors to enhance the student experience.

University of Reading Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell said:

''The generosity of our donors, the vast majority of whom are Reading alumni, has been stunning and I am hugely grateful to everyone who has made a donation this year.

''The money raised will enable staff and students to benefit in a number of ways. For example, there will be more support to enable prospective students in difficult financial circumstances to realise their dream and attend this great University.  We will also be able to support innovative new methods in teaching and learning as well as enhancing opportunities in sports and other activities.

''The Annual Fund makes a major contribution to the life and work of the University of Reading and its impact will be felt for years to come. That is what really matters and what counts most to those who have donated to the Fund.''

The money that has been raised in this campaign, along with the £205,000 raised in the autumn 2011 telethon, will be spent this summer to support current and future generations of Reading students. 

The results of the spring 2012 campaign confirm why the University of Reading Annual Fund is amongst the best telethons in the sector, with results akin to what may be expected of a telephone campaign at Oxford or Cambridge University.

To find out more about the Annual Fund and the difference it makes to the lives of University of Reading students, please visit:  http://www.reading.ac.uk/alumni/annualfund/alu-support-annualfund.aspx

To make a donation, please visit: http://www.reading.ac.uk/alumni/support/alu-support-makeagift.aspx or contact Becki Mckinlay, Annual Giving Manager: 0118 378 5238 or r.j.mckinlay@reading.ac.uk

ENDS