If March Madness has proved anything to Barbara Leland ’74 over the years, it’s that the month brings out the best in participating schools. She’s hoping for the same when Guilford College kicks off Guilford Madness, three days of giving to help support the school that changed Barbara’s life and so many other students’ lives after her.

“I think it’s important to pay it forward for all that was given to us – in life, sure, but also where Guilford is concerned,” says Barbara, who lives in Greensboro. “Between my parents, Guilford and my mentors I’ve just been beyond blessed. I want others to have that opportunity. That’s our role, I think, to help our students who come after us.”

Guilford Madness, scheduled March 27-29, is a spin, of course, on the current NCAA Basketball Tournament. Only instead of picking teams and waiting for your bracket to bust, Guilford Madness makes it simple to give. The College has outlined three programs it hopes to fund through the new campaign. Guilfordians only need to decide which program, or division, they want to support:

Donations designated to the Nathan Hunt Division – named for the founder of New Garden Boarding School – will go to the College’s Annual Funds.

Donations to the Lavina Curry Division – named for the 19th century washerwoman who helped enslaved men to freedom using her husband’s free papers – will go to current College initiatives.

Donations made to the Levi Coffin Division – named for the Quaker abolitionist – will go to an area of the College that the benefactor chooses.

Each division has a goal. When that goal is met it will unlock a challenge (gift?) that will be spread evenly among the other divisions.

Like Barbara, Linda Mercer ’69 of Halifax, Va., is eager to take part in Guilford Madness. She appreciates the College’s overcoming its recent struggles and wants to keep the momentum moving forward.

“I’m amazed at the new majors being offered to students – ones which didn’t even exist anywhere when I was a college student,” says Linda. “The programs that provide both experience and personal growth to participants should be supported and advanced. It can be done with financial aid as well as with enthusiastic spreading of the word by alumni.”

Supporting Guilford Madness is as easy as 1-2-3:
 
1.    Inform - Spread the word about Guilford Madness through word of mouth, social media, phone calls and/or text messages.
2.    Involve - Volunteer by engaging in an on-campus community service project; support campus-wide initiatives; or lend your time by making phone calls to help rally additional philanthropic support.
3.    Invest - Support Guilford with a financial donation of any size (no gift is too small). Gifts from Guilfordians will make a huge impact on the student experience and the future of the College.

Tip off to Guilford Madness is March 27. Jump on the bandwagon and keep Guilford strong. You can learn more about Guilford Madness here.