Exon. - Exeter College - University of Oxford

Telethon 2009:
You Make a Difference
The annual telethon provides hope for a ‘trembling finalist’ and plenty of support
for the College.
by Daisy Johnson (2006, English)
Hello, I’m calling from Exeter College as part
of our annual telethon campaign…”.
Cheeringly, the response I invariably received on
delivering this introduction was not impatience
or disgruntlement, but one of warm recognition.
Although I embarked upon this year’s campaign
as a telethon “veteran”, having called Old
Members from the Rector’s dining room last
spring, I never ceased to be surprised by the
powerful sense of personal connection that
persists among Exonians old and new. As I
was making discoveries about the lives of Old
Members, they were diligently enquiring about
my own. The same is true of the parents that I
spoke to during the campaign. As a peer of their
own sons and daughters, I was offered pastoral
care by proxy. Was the food ok Did I have
any friends
Their concern did not go unappreciated. As a
current finalist, I admit that this year there was a
subtext to my questions about “Life after Exeter”.
“What are you doing now” was also “What shall
I do now!”. Whether this was apparent from the
panic in my voice or whether Old Members and
parents alike remember all too well the terror of
emerging into the wide world, I was touched by
the encouragement and reassurance that poured
my way. I spoke to people in every conceivable
career, from publishing to theatre production,
from corporate law to cat photography. Everyone
was unremittingly optimistic about the options
that await me after College, offering advice,
recommendations and even work experience.
As illustrated by people’s interest in my future,
” the telethon really does demonstrate the “Hope, and more
importantly,
a stalwart
Alumni network,
is out there.”
atmosphere of give and take that characterises
Exeter’s alumni network. This year, perhaps the
most concrete thing that I was able to give back
was a recipe for a particularly sticky and
delicious ginger cake. In a few years’ time,
however, when I receive my first call as an Old
Member, I too hope to be able to assuage the
graduation fears of some trembling finalist. “Do
not panic!” I will intone sagely. Hope, and more
importantly, a stalwart alumni network, is
out there.
This year’s telethon raised over £140,000. A
big thank you for your generous support.
(amount received £)
160,000
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
155,000
2005
127,000
133,000
2006 2007
(year)
170,000
140,000
2008 2009
Telethon totals raised over the last five years
by Eleanor Burnett,
College Accountant
There is an easy way for donors to increase the value of their gift at no cost to themselves. Exeter
College challenges you to ‘Gift Aid It!’ Gift Aid is a scheme whereby charities can claim tax relief
on donations made by UK taxpayers (including sole traders and partnerships).
The College can reclaim the tax from HM Revenue & Customs on the gross equivalent of a
donation. This is equivalent to an extra 25 pence for every £1 donated. In addition, until April
2011, the College can claim a further three pence in each pound donated. That means a donation
of £1,000 becomes a gain to the College of £1,280. Quite a hefty bonus for the current
financial times!
It’s not just good news for the College though. If you are a higher rate taxpayer, you too can
benefit from tax relief on gifts to Exeter. You can claim back the difference between the 40% higher
rate of tax and the 20% basic rate, on the total value of your donation.
To sign up, simply complete a Gift Aid Declaration form or visit the Exeter College alumni
website, www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/alumni, for more information.
www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/alumni EXON Autumn 2009 27