MBA Fundraising Campaign Highlights Haas’ Uniqueness

The full-time MBA class of 2010 pledged $53,379 to the Haas School through its LifeLong Connections Campaign, which featured a viral video that focused on what students liked best about their time at Haas and how it has impacted their lives.

Living up to one of the Haas School's defining principles – Beyond Yourself — more than 89 percent of the class gave pledges to the campaign. The campaign also received pledges from Dean Rich Lyons and his wife, Jen; a fall 2009 exchange student; and Meg Roundy, associate director of student-alumni relations. Money raised through the Lifelong Connections Campaign directly benefits the Haas School and Haas community through the Haas Annual Fund.

Gary Coover, MBA 10 and Kent Newman, MBA/MPH 10, co-chaired the LifeLong Connections Committee. Their charge: raising awareness about the importance of the campaign and of staying engaged and active in the Haas Alumni Network.

A viral video featured snapshots from students' time at Haas, including the talent show and team-building activities, and interviews with students about their favorite professors and favorite moments at the school. Students cited mentors, classroom experiences, a 23-hour bus ride on an International Business Development trip, and lifelong relationships built with classmates.

Highlighting the diversity of the school, the video closed with students answering the question, "What does Haas mean to you?" in different languages. Their translated answers: "learning, love, family" and "a new direction for your life."

This 22nd annual LifeLong Connections Campaign also featured friendly competitions between cohorts and study groups, resulting in small prizes and bragging rights for the first groups to pledge to the campaign. To maintain their lifelong connections to the Haas School, students also were encouraged to build their profiles in social networking tools LinkedIn and Haas@Cal, the school's online alumni directory.

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