THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | VOL. 59 | NO. 1 | WINTER 2010

Institutional News | Spring 2011
Parents Take an Active Role
by Giving Back
BY TROY RABBETT (’06), DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
College costs can be expensive: tuition,
room and board, books and spending
money. These things can all contribute
to one big bill back home. However,
with the exception of a few, most
students do not realize the impact that
their college decision has on family
finances. So, in an era of job loss,
foreclosures and the worst economic
climate since the 1980s, what could
possibly make a family want to give
back to Loras while their son or
daughter is still enrolled as a student?
The answer, according to Luigi and
Pina Di Pasquale, is emersion. Luigi
and Pina are the parents of Loras
College junior Anna Di Pasquale
(Northbrook, Ill.). “It’s important for us
as parents to have Anna at a school that
builds on our beliefs as Catholics, and
Loras does that. We have a strong faith
in Catholic education and the values
which support it, and through the Loras
Fund, we feel we are able to live out the
example of giving back that we want to
share with our daughter.”
And since the time Anna arrived on
campus, the Di Pasquales have made a
conscious effort to build on their passion
for Catholic education. This type of
commitment by parents is something
that does not go unnoticed according to
Sandra Gonzales-Denham (’05), director
of the Loras Fund. “Philanthropic
support from parents and guardians is
a great example to our students of the
importance of giving back and
supporting organizations that provide
the community with a valuable service.”
{ 8 }
The Loras Fund is a foundation for the
basic operations of the College. This
fund creates opportunities for students to
study abroad, participate on service trips
and experience internships all across
the country. The Loras Fund also
contributes to the campus environment
in many ways, providing for technology
in the classrooms, instruments in the
laboratories and equipment for athletics.
As these are part of nearly every Loras
student’s experience, it is easy to see
how the Loras Fund plays a significant
role in every student’s daily life.
Perhaps most importantly, donations to
the Loras Fund provide financial aid to
students in need. Nearly 100% of
students receive gift aid from the
College, 73% of whom also receive
need-based aid. Giving to the Loras
Fund not only helps current students
but also those who plan to attend Loras
in the coming years. This, according to
Gonzales-Denham, “…sends an
unmistakable message of trust in Loras,
to provide students with a meaningful
education and demonstrates a family’s
commitment to Loras’ bright future.”
And that bright future is something Pina
Di Pasquale says goes well beyond a
student’s time at Loras. “Anna, just like
every other student at Loras, is gaining
skills and learning things that are not
only helping them now, but will continue
to help them stand out as they transition
into the job market and real life.”
At present, about 11% of parents of
current students contribute to the Loras
Fund. Every gift to the Loras Fund
helps the College take another step
toward offering students more experience,
more aid and above all, more
opportunity.
“Loras is grateful to the many parents
and guardians that support the College,”
notes Gonzales-Denham. “Contributions
made to the Loras Fund support Loras’
Catholic mission and help provide
each student with an exceptional Loras
experience.”
And that is something the Di Pasquales
say is priceless. “That’s one of the
reasons Anna chose Loras in the end,
because it is a special place, one where
she can learn and grow and prepare for
what comes after Loras. And that too is
one of the reasons we support the Loras
Fund, because it encompasses the whole
campus and the values of the institution.”
The Loras Fund is a great way for
parents to stay actively involved in their
student’s education as well as contribute
to the Loras College community. As an
institution, Loras is committed to
offering students everything they need
to succeed, both while at Loras and
beyond, and the Loras Fund stands as
one of the best means of achieving
that goal.
If you have questions about how to get
involved, or are interested in donating to
the Loras Fund, please contact Sandra
Gonzales-Denham, director of the
Loras Fund, at (563)588-7328 or
sandra.gonzales-denham@loras.edu. �