It’s that time of year when BYU employees “March” together to greater heights of giving and blessing the lives of students.
In 2012, for the third straight year, 75 percent of full-time BYU employees donated to the campaign, raising enough to fund the equivalent of 125 full-tuition scholarships or 380 mentored-learning grants.
Looking over the monthly Employee Giving reports, Brett Thomas, assistant director of the School of Music, saw the potential of the School’s faculty and staff donations.
“Little by little, the cumulative effect of [our contributions] was adding up,” Thomas said. There was soon enough to establish a merit-based scholarship to be awarded to one of the top music students in the program.
Thomas proposed the idea, and Bryan Lew, a senior from Lehi, Utah, majoring in viola performance, was nominated by his professors to receive the new School of Music Faculty-Staff Scholarship. Thanks to his scholarship and BYU experience, Bryan has performed all over the world.
“I am deeply grateful for what the School of Music faculty and staff have done for me,” Lew says. “I have felt a deep love, concern and care from them. They have given me incentive to work even harder and have motivated me to help other people in the process.”
To recognize the sacrifices made for Lew, this year’s campaign will spotlight the School of Music. As BYU faculty, staff, and administrators invest in BYU by participating in the Employee Giving campaign, students like Bryan are able to focus on gaining knowledge and experience that will bless their lives well into the future.
“The BYU community comes together as a family to support one another,” said Tau Ioane of the Annual Giving Office. “I’m amazed at the collective effort of all employees that bless so many individuals — both students and others who visit the BYU campus.”
Employees are also urged to consider making a monthly gift through a payroll deduction.
“Monthly giving is an incredible way to give at BYU,” Ioane said. “It’s at the heart of annual giving as we look at the combined effect
of donations. The impact on students and others is remarkable.”
Throughout the month of March, department representatives will be providing employees with information on how to contribute to the campaign.
For more information, contact Tau Ioane at ext. 2-6453.
