When you choose to financially support a cause, you are putting a lot of faith in the organization, the mission and the people who run it. Over the last twelve years, alumna Dori Sonntag advanced into new roles on the University Relations, Development team at Gonzaga. Here is her story the ways that our students, faculty and donors have given her inspiration:
“When I was nine years old, my brother started as a freshman at Gonzaga. I really looked up to him and always said I was going to follow in his footsteps and attend Gonzaga. After graduating in 1997 with a bachelor of arts in psychology and a minor in business administration, I took a job as an administrative assistant in annual giving. I wanted to pursue a Masters in counseling psychology. Thanks to the support of the employee tuition assistance program, I completed that degree in 2004. However, development had me hooked! I found the work to be so fulfilling and Gonzaga to be a place that I did not want to leave. Today, as Director of Development Operations, I work to share the impact of donation to Gonzaga and ensure gift transactions are as efficient and seamless as possible.”
“As a student, I believed in the mission of Gonzaga. However, in the last twelve years, Gonzaga’s mission has become a part of who I am. My husband, Dave, and I are both alumni and both work at Gonzaga. It is the place that we met, where we fell in love, where we got married, where we work, and where we hope our children will someday attend. It was a great surprise to me when I found out how many alumni support activities like the SEARCH retreat that I went on in my junior year. To me, that experience embodied what our GU community and our mission is all about. ”
“Dave and I hope to be an example for our children by teaching them the importance of giving back. It doesn’t matter how much you give, just that you do. Each day, I am inspired by the people who give their time, hearts, souls, and financial resources to the University. We love this place so much and you challenge me to give my best each day.”