You have always been involved in the daily life of your son or daughter. Do you wish to remain involved even while they are on campus, perhaps hundreds of miles away? You know Bates is doing extraordinary things for your son or daughter--but did you know Bates needs you in order to sustain this? Did you know there are volunteer opportunities for you that will help the College, help the Bates community, of which you are a part, and help your child?
All parents and guardians of current Bates students (and parents of alumni) are members of The Bates Parents & Family Association (BPFA) and are invited to volunteer to take part in its activities. The association includes volunteer programs in the offices of Advancement, Admissions and Career Services. It facilitates greater and more open communication between families and the College
For more information about any of the volunteer programs, please contact Alli Lambert , Director of Parent Giving and Programs at 207-786-8370 or parents@bates.edu. You can also fill out our simple online volunteer form by clicking here.
Parents Fund Committee
Welcome Committee
Additional Programs
The Bates Parents Fund is a fundraising campaign conducted by the College from July 1 to June 30 each year. It is a critical component of the overall Bates Fund, which raises annual unrestricted dollars from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and foundations in support of Bates' educational programs. Contributions to the Parents Fund help meet current expenses for the essentials that make a Bates education one of the best in the nation.
Parents Fund Committee members work to increase the funds raised each year by providing philanthropic leadership and fostering supportive relationships between the College and parents. Committee members focus on personally contacting current parents and parents of alumni throughout the fiscal year to help the College gain their vital support. The BPFA office provides all the necessary materials and assistance to reach out to fellow parents. Volunteers for the 2007-2008 Bates Parents Fund helped raise $1,007,237 from 1,335 donors.
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Welcome Committee members make phone calls to families of incoming first-year and transfer students to welcome them to the Bates community. These committee members answer questions and provide helpful tips. The BPFA Office provides call sheets and matches volunteers to new families in their geographic area whenever possible. In addition, many committee members host regional welcome receptions for new and current families during the summer months. In 2008, committee members welcomed nearly 500 families.
Welcome Committee work also includes involvement in special events such as New Student Orientation and Parents & Family Weekend. Parent volunteers and their students may enjoy staffing a welcome table to answer questions, educating or recruiting new parent volunteers, or hosting or attending a reception in their hometown.
Attendance at the Fall BPFA meeting during Parents & Family Weekend is also strongly encouraged.
Additional Programs
Many Bates parents and alumni participate in volunteer programs through the offices of Admissions and Career Services. Volunteers from across the country work with Admissions by representing Bates at local college fairs and by hosting regional receptions for prospective students. They are also valued members of the Career Advisory Network, forwarding employment and entry-level job information to the College, sponsoring interns in their places of employment or sharing career insights with students and young alumni. Participation in career discussion panels is also welcomed. If you're interested in volunteering for any of these programs, please contact the office of Admissions (207-786-6000 or http://www.bates.edu/aia-homepage) and Career Services (207-786-6232 or http://www.bates.edu/career).
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