NIU phonathon volunteers raised a record amount of donations since September for the Alumni Association.

A record 46.8 percent of NIU alumni were contacted since September and pledged more than $115,000, said Robert Brown, NIU director of special giving. Corporate donations increased the total of amount to more than $122,900, he said.

Phonathon volunteers contacted 34,072 households this year, he said.

As many as 800 to 1,000 current students volunteer their households for donations, Brown said.

Last year, more than $66,000 was raised, while more than $52,000 was raised the year before, he said.

The phonathon is directed toward NIU alumni, individuals, businesses and corporations interested in donating money to the Alumni Association to continue NIU’s academic and post-educational services, he said.

Pledges go toward 35 student scholarships, support for Founders Memorial Library, academic department support and job placement for graduating students, among other academic areas, Brown said.

“It’s Northern’s goal to be number one in all of Illinois among all public universities in terms of the percent of alumni who contribute each year,” Brown said.

Brown said the phonathon is as much a “friend raiser” as it is a fundraiser since the alumni stay in touch with NIU and the current students through the phone calls.

“I’d say a big thank you to all alumni who are helping NIU with their gifts each year,” Brown said.

The Black Greek Council and the Panhellenic Council are the two NIU fraternities that have been most helpful with phonathon volunteers, he said.