In light of St John’s most successful telephone campaign to date, Senior Development Officer Will Romeu-Evans reflects on the impact these campaigns have, not only on the College, but on the callers themselves.
At its heart, fundraising is about the creation of meaningful relationships – with people, places and projects – which allow us to communicate and enact our vision of a better world. At St John’s this rings true most clearly during our annual Telethon, in which student ambassadors engage with alumni from around the world to provide a direct, personal conduit with college life and the opportunity to create positive change for our students. The exchanges shared demonstrate the strength of the ‘Johnian connection’, with conversations between previously perfect strangers often running to an hour or more. It is a unique and wonderful thing to behold.
The relationships established through the Telethon are a key factor underpinning its continued success; this year’s campaign was the College’s most successful by far, with 422 Johnians pledging an awe-inspiring £572,937 in support of the Dobson Free Places Fund, the Annual Fund and the Studentship Scheme, among other essential causes. This is life-changing for those students who benefit from College funding and, in a more subtle way, for those making the calls.
Over the years more than 170 students have taken part in the Telethon, with the majority motivated to do so by the desire to ‘give back’ to an institution that has nurtured them through the most formative years of their lives. Few anticipate the impact that conversations with Johnians will have on them; through the provision of insights and life advice, revelations of shared experiences generations apart, the provision of internships and work experience opportunities, and the creation of business connections and academic partnerships.
We remain immensely grateful to all Johnians who take part in the Telethon, and the reflections below highlight some of the experiences enjoyed by their counterparts: our community of callers, who over the years have dedicated themselves to making the Telethon such an immensely positive experience for all involved.
Victoria Mottram (2013)
I participated in the Telethon for two years, in 2015 and 2016. I enjoyed it so much. For those few weeks, the people taking part in the Telethon are some of your closest friends, and it was rewarding to give something back to the College, which had always supported me.
My most memorable phone call only lasted a few minutes. I was calling a regular donor who had matriculated in the 1950s, but instead I spoke to his widow. He had sadly passed away a few days earlier. I spoke to her about the impact his donations had made to students like me and thanked her for all the support he had given the College for many years. Although I did not get a donation with that call, for me it epitomised what the Telethon is about. It’s about a connection between Johnians across the years.
Blessings Doherty (2021)
I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the 2024 Telethon and speaking to our lovely alumni! The alumni I spoke to ranged from partners at law firms and economists to founders of travel experiences and religious leaders; each conversation was enriching and allowed me to understand specific sectors much better and discuss topical issues and different career routes I could take. I particularly enjoyed the conversations about sustainability and the property industry. We considered the positive changes from older development models to alternative and more sustainable approaches and the inevitable conflicts between the models. I was encouraged by the alumni that our generation may be able to get it right! I was also inspired by the long-term impact that our alumni want to have, especially within the education sector, and this helped me to consider what kind of legacy I want to leave.
Olivia Arney (2023)
I really enjoyed my Telethon experience. It was such a fantastic opportunity to speak to alumni and swap stories about our time at St John’s. I was inspired not only by the success of their careers, but also by their generosity towards the Dobson Free Places Scheme.
A particular highlight was a career conversation with an alumnus, during which he offered to meet me for coffee to answer further questions. This was followed by an offer of work experience, which was a fantastic opportunity that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Telethon and would really recommend the experience!
So, regardless of whether you take part in the Telethon each year or 2024 was the first time we got in touch, know that your involvement in all its forms is greatly appreciated, and not least by those making the calls!
Written by
Will is Senior Development Officer (Annual Giving) at St John’s College.
