Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
Phonathon was enlightening. It required me to grow in valuable ways and it gave me confidence. And I came to understand that there are people who were really invested in my experience at Creighton.
He describes it as an intensified spirituality, an almost rewiring that happens at Creighton. This rewiring is what makes Neil Brady and Sarah Guntz-Brady, BS’18, look forward to a call from Phonathon every year.
Although he didn’t attend Creighton, Neil says that through Bluejay basketball and family ties, he feels a connection to the University. His father, Daniel Brady, PhD, BS’78, is also a graduate of Creighton.
“I see Sarah and my father, who both give so much thought to every decision they make,” Neil said, “and it’s like there was almost a rewiring that happened to them at Creighton— there’s a thoughtfulness and Jesuit spirituality that intensified.”
Like 98% of Creighton students, Sarah received financial aid to attend Creighton. To help pay for remaining fees, Sarah became a caller for Phonathon—an experience that forced her out of her comfort zone.
“Phonathon was enlightening. It required me to grow in valuable ways and it gave me confidence. And I came to understand that there are people who were really invested in my experience at Creighton.”
A few nights each week during her freshman and sophomore years, Sarah was tasked with calling alumni across the country to connect, share news about the University and raise thousands of dollars to directly benefit students like herself.
Sarah eventually took on a super-visor role, and in 2018, helped plan the University’s first annual Giving Day—a day when Bluejays join together to support what they love at Creighton. Through Phonathon, Sarah says she came to understand the significance of fundraising.
“I realized that I could help make a comparable amount for the University to what I was receiving in aid. I found it especially meaningful to raise an amount that I knew was directly impacting a student's life—just as mine was impacted.”
As a sophomore, Sarah made her first Phonathon gift. Today, she and Neil make annual gifts to Phonathon and support Giving Day.
“I’m really excited to continue to provide for the University,” Neil said. “I have an appreciation for it, because I see the impact of Creighton in Sarah and in my father. ”
Sarah says it is important to her to stay engaged with Creighton because she sees it as an opportunity to be an advocate for change.
“Academics inspired by faith is a strong tool to develop charismatic, thoughtful, articulate and just leaders. I want more people like that in my community.”
The Guntz-Bradys are active neighborhood partners in their hometown, Indianapolis, where they are members of their high school alumni advisory board, Brebeuf Jesuit, and attend St. Pius X Catholic Parish.
In addition to Jesuit education, they are passionate about programs such as Horizons, which offers summer educational opportunities to students to prevent summer slide, and the Joseph Maley Foundation. The foundation honors Joseph Maley’s legacy by empowering children to know they can have a positive impact in the world.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic started, Sarah and Neil attended fundraising events in support of youth and their families.
“There is a special energy in the room at these events,” Sarah said. “Seeing others so willing to be generous is really inspiring. It’s like the air is electric.”
Sarah and Neil liken the energy at the events to the feeling on Creighton’s annual day of giving.
“On Giving Day, we might not make the air electric, but we can feel that spark when we hit enter [on the keyboard],” Neil said.
