More than 150 Columbia College Fund/Parents Fund Class Agents came out to swap fundraising tips and hear Dean Michele Moody-Adams speak during the seventh annual Columbia College Fund Leadership Conference, held at Low Library on October 3.

"It was everyone working together last year that made this happen," said Mark Amsterdam '66, chair of the College Fund, announcing to the crowd that the fund had exceeded its Fiscal Year 2008-09 $14 million goal by raising $14.6 million.

Amsterdam gave his introduction over breakfast, which was followed by a lecture on social networking by Sreenath Sreenivasan, professor of professional practice and dean of student affairs at the Journalism School.

Class Agents, who volunteer to solicit classmates and other College parents for donations, then headed to Hamilton Hall for breakout sessions on "The Basics of Volunteering," "The Heart of the Annual Fund: Reunion Giving," "Successful Fundraising Strategies in a Challenging Economic Climate" and "Dollars vs. Donors: Why Participation Matters."

The day ended with a speech and question-and-answer session during lunch with Moody-Adams, who discussed topics ranging from the Core Curriculum to the Dean's Teas she plans to host with students.

"It was a day for volunteers to see the importance of their work, that we are here to support them and that there is a large and diverse community doing this together," said Susan Birnbaum, executive director of the College Fund. "We received some really good ideas, and that made it successful. The volunteers felt ready and excited to go out and do their work."

-Ethan Rouen '04J