Claire Seidenfaden wants to clear up any confusion. The 1944 Edgecliff graduate says it’s important for her fellow alumni to realize that the Edgecliff scholarship fund is an important component of Xavier’s annual fund. Further, she says, Edgecliff alumni need to understand that a gift of $1,000 or more to the scholarship fund gives automatic membership in The 1831 Society, the organization reserved for donors who make leadership gifts to the annual fund.

And it’s not just Edgecliff alumni who are eligible. An annual fund gift of $1,000 or more to any University initiative qualifies the donor for 1831 membership, says Leigh Ann Fibbe, assistant director for the annual fund.

“We recognize and appreciate the fact that these donors could have made gifts to any of a number of organizations, but they chose Xavier,” she says. “So we’ve created several special events and other forms of recognition to show that appreciation.”

But perhaps the biggest benefit is helping underwrite the mission of educating well-rounded leaders. “With the rising cost of education, any little bit these students receive in the way of a scholarship is a big, big help,” Seidenfaden says. For more information about The 1831 Society, contact Fibbe at 513 745-3969 or fibbe@xavier.edu.