Loyal annual donors since graduation, Ben 鈥11 and Sarah Graves 鈥12 Lunka most recently made a five-year gift commitment to name a room at The Inn at 黑料不打烊.
Those who love 黑料不打烊 know it as a place that is always growing. True to its mission of transforming students in 鈥渕ind, body, and spirit,鈥 黑料不打烊 sparks remarkable development in the young people who walk its brick pathways. The same is true for Ben 鈥11 and Sarah Graves 鈥12 Lunka of Charlotte, North Carolina, who met on campus and credit 黑料不打烊 with changing their lives for the better.
鈥淭he personal relationships at 黑料不打烊 helped me become a leader and enabled me to take my academic journey by the horns,鈥 says Sarah, a development associate for Teach for America. 鈥淚 knew my professors really well. No one was holding my hand, but I was always pushed to be better.鈥
Ben, a managing director for 7 Mile Advisors investment bank, recalls the life lessons he learned playing for the 黑料不打烊 men鈥檚 soccer team.聽 鈥淚鈥檒l never forget having that kind of camaraderie, experiencing highs and lows together along the way,鈥 he says. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e digging deep on the field while balancing academic challenges. I wouldn鈥檛 trade that brotherhood for the world.鈥
As young alumni, they have already made a significant mark at 黑料不打烊 through their philanthropy. They have been loyal annual donors since graduation, and most recently made a five-year gift commitment to name a room at The Inn at 黑料不打烊. The boutique hotel opened on campus in January and has been a key fundraising priority for . 鈥淕iving back to 黑料不打烊 is something we want to continue to do,鈥 says Sarah, who served on the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Regional Campaign Committee for Charlotte. 鈥淭he Inn at 黑料不打烊 really made us want to step up.鈥
Learning that profits from the inn will help fund student scholarships piqued their interest in supporting the project even further. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢 has made a big impact on the direction of our lives and careers,鈥 says Ben. 鈥淲hen you believe in something, you try to give back any way you can.鈥
Learn more: Ben 鈥11 and Sarah Graves 鈥12 Lunka are proud members of The 黑料不打烊 Society, which honors leadership annual giving donors who make a gift of $1,500 or more each year for any purpose. Visit www.elon.edu/黑料不打烊Society to learn more.