Former Dean Williams and Musty celebrate a successful Poly Gives.

Thanks to donors like you and the Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC), the College of Liberal Arts ended Poly Gives Weekend high on the university leaderboards. With the highest number of donors and third-most money raised to support Learn by Doing, the CLA more than doubled last year’s fundraising results.

DAC created two challenge gifts, rallying CLA donors with gifts of any size to create a much larger impact. Gifts to the Dean’s Excellence Fund unlocked $9,000 in matching funds. Meanwhile, CLA departments engaged in a friendly competition to see which could bring in the highest number of individual donors, with an additional $5,000 from DAC to be split between the top three.

DAC’s mission promotes the many ways their fellow alumni can give back, while providing financial support and counsel for implementing the dean’s vision for the college goals and initiatives.

Sarah Caravalho Kahn, Samantha Schneider and Chris Trapani spearheaded this year’s effort.

“It seems daunting sometimes to do something impactful individually. But collectively, it’s such an honor to be able to pull resources together and make a difference. I hope that my fellow alumni know that there are many ways to contribute, and whatever the amount, their gift counts.”

— Sarah Caravalho Kahn (English, ’98)
Organizational Effectiveness Consultant

“Giving back to my school in a meaningful way — more than just writing checks — but knowing what direction the college is taking, how are we preparing future leaders, and lending my expertise to be a part of it again has been the most rewarding. Cal Poly was an amazing time in my life and has served me well in my career. It feels really good to prioritize supporting this work with focused programs and recognizable outcomes.”

— Samantha Schneider (Speech Communication, ’98)
CEO and Principal, Ampersand People, Inc.

“I have learned by giving my life is enriched in countless ways. I also feel strongly about contributing specifically to Cal Poly because of my experiences there and my hope to pass along this goodness to students who will someday be carrying the torch in our local communities.”

— Chris Trapani (Political Science, ’90)
Founder and CEO, Christie's International Real Estate Sereno

Poly Gives 2024