The TCU Sales Center invited students to practice making cold-calls as part of TCU Gives Day, demonstrating the power of giving and connecting with key stakeholders on the other end of the phone.
October 14, 2024
By Alexandria Salinas
TCU Sales Center students put their skills to the test during TCU Gives Day, a 24-hour philanthropic event that ran from noon Oct. 8 to noon on Oct. 9 this year. The students conducted cold calls to a curated list of alumni, parents and prospects to support TCU programs.
The TCU Neeley School of Business created a special challenge for TCU Gives Day. If 375 gifts were made to the business school, then CAVU Securities LLC would donate $100,000 to the TCU Neeley Office of Inclusive Excellence. CAVU Securities, a veteran- and minority- owned broker-dealer, donates 10% of its revenue to nonprofits serving veterans and underrepresented groups.
The giving in TCU Neeley didn’t stop there. In a sub-challenge for the TCU Sales Center, the Hutchison Family, led by Corey Hutchison, chair of the Sales Center of Advisory Board, pledged to gift $30,000 if 55 individual gifts of any amount were made to the Sales Center, and they surpassed their goal. At the end of TCU Gives Day, 67 gifts were made to the Sales Center, totaling more than $50,000.
Real-World Sales Experience
Students in the Foundations of Selling course gathered in the Sales Center with phones in hand and seated at tables in groups to make and track their calls. HUB International Area President Matt Morris and his team provided feedback in real-time on this day, further enhancing the learning opportunity.
Grace Lewis, a senior majoring in Communications Studies and an intern at HUB International, described the experience as incredibly rewarding.
“I love being able to raise money for a program that’s poured so much into me,” Lewis said. “It’s amazing to see how sales can impact not only TCU but the Fort Worth community.”
Britney Haire, a senior Marketing major, echoed her classmate’s comments, noting how the experience helped solidify her learning.
“Applying the skills we’ve learned in class makes the curriculum come to life,” Haire said.
Philanthropy's Impact
For Kassidy Mentze, a senior Marketing major, TCU Gives Day meant more than fundraising. It was about giving back and creating opportunities for future students.
“The best part of TCU Gives Day is how it supports different organizations within Neeley,” Mentze said. “It gives us a chance to share our gratitude with those who believe in Neeley’s success.”
Philanthropy ensures that TCU students benefit from scholarships, experiential learning and other resources. The cold-calling efforts from sales students demonstrated how giving directly impacts programs like the Sales Center.
Ken Corbit, assistant professor of professional practice in marketing and academic director for the Sales Center, emphasized the value of this experience for students.
“This practice allows students to make real asks to businesses, which is exactly what they’ll do in their future roles,” Corbit said. “It’s true experiential learning.”
The Importance of Support
Philanthropic support is critical to TCU’s success, and external partners like CAVU Securities and the Hutchison Family are essential in amplifying that impact. Their contributions provide students with invaluable growth opportunities and support diversity and inclusion initiatives within the university.
“People should care because they are supporting the next generation of professionals – specifically, future sales professionals,” said Natalia von Gierke, a senior Marketing major with a focus on Global Business.
TCU Gives Day is more than just a fundraising event. It’s a platform for students to hone their skills, connect with the community, and ensure that TCU continues to thrive. For the Sales Center students, it was a chance to put their knowledge into practice while helping to build a better future for the university and its students.
