The Inside Scoop

"What's all this about?" "Why are we getting ice cream?" "Is it really free?" "Why are you guys doing this?" "Can I have seconds?"

Earlham students always seem so curious when administrative faculty members offer them free ice cream. I suppose we do look odd — twenty Institutional Advancement office staff members gathered on The Heart, wearing Earlham College hats, clutching ice cream scoops and napkins, and gesturing to a wide variety of sundae toppings.

This annual tradition, called Bond Around The Heart, serves a valuable purpose beyond the simple gesture of free ice cream.

As one of those staff members donning a hat and battling frostbite of the fingers from all the scooping, I'm always excited to answer those curious inquiries when students raise them. It's one more opportunity to explain the importance of philanthropy to the College, in a way that puts a smile on students' faces.

Bond Around The Heart began in 2005, as a way for students to form a "bond" with each other and institutional advancement staff, as well as the idea of philanthropy to Earlham. The annual event is also a tribute to Earlham alumnus and donor Byron Bond who, upon his death, left a sizeable portion of his estate to the Wayne County Foundation entirely for Earlham's benefit. As the story goes, when arranging for the final disposition of his estate, Mr. Bond was asked how he wanted Earlham to spend his money. The elderly gentleman is reported to have answered, offhandedly, "I don't care how Earlham uses the money. … They can buy ice cream for the students for all I care."

And so we do, every year. This year the staff will set up their sundae stations on Wednesday, April 15 at 1:30 p.m. It is our hope that, as students graduate and look back at their time at Earlham, they will have sweet memories of Bond Around The Heart and the College.

And yes, you can have seconds.

— Ellen Blevens, development communications and stewardship coordinator