by Holly Jones
Gonzaga Development Communications
A big part of my job is saying “thank you.” With the donors who give so generously, I share stories of those who benefit. With the students, alumni, families, friends, faculty and staff, I share stories of the donors who believe so much in Gonzaga’s mission that they give back to ensure its future. It’s anything but a thankless job—in fact, it’s probably the most thankful job I could ever imagine. But again, I am usually the one saying “thanks.”
Don Haubaugh, Gonzaga benefactor
One day when I was “just doing my job,” I interviewed Dan Harbaugh (’70) to recognize him for this most generous gift he has planned for the University, and to share his Gonzaga story. When I thanked him for his time and gift, he responded in an extremely unexpected way.
“I hope you realize too that we really appreciate your work,” he said.
There is something different about this place and you can see it in the employees.
“I see people doing their work day after day with such enthusiasm. You have some of the same faculty members from when I was an undergrad, and I just love seeing the longevity here. It’s a very rich place to be and just beautiful. Some of them have had no connection to GU before they came here and yet the button has been clicked and now here they are making the school run. Everybody is working with the same objective, so my hat is off. Thank you.”
Now, I consider myself to be a small cog in a much larger machine; what I do serves a team of colleagues, who serve a department, then a division, and then the greater University. I’m “nobody,” but after my interview with Dan, I was made to feel like the most important person in the world. There I was, in part for the purpose of sharing gratitude, and he thanked me.
If you’re on Twitter, you may have seen the hashtag #ZaGratitude. It’s meant to be representative of a special thankfulness that we feel and show here at GU. I first saw it used by President McCulloh (@Gonzaga_Prez) on his Twitter feed and have used it ever since for the Gonzaga Giving account (@GU_Giving). After my recent interview though, I felt it deeper than ever before. I am filled with ZaGratitude to have a job working for such a wonderful place and purpose. I am filled with ZaGratitude for the people I get to work with, just as Dan mentioned, who have an infectious enthusiasm about Gonzaga and our mission. I am filled with ZaGratitude for the donors who help keep the University going and the students at its heart. And last (but surely not least), I have an overabundance of ZaGratitude for Dan Harbaugh, whose words truly made my day.