BYU alumnus connects Choose 2 Give with Carillon Bell Tower

Brigham Young University alumnus Richard Sheffield connected the student-run Choose 2 Give campaign with the Carillon Bell Tower, in light of the addition of a new 7,000-pound bell as part of BYU's sesquicentennial celebration.

Sheffield donated 2,300 small bronze bells to colleges across campus for students who donate to the campaign.

Sheffield attended BYU in 1975, when the tower was first built and dedicated.

I had seen these small bells that actually my family used for a reunion because they know Im crazy about bells, Sheffield said.

After deciding to connect the bells with giving, he ordered them for the Choose 2 Give campaign. He said he had a dual purpose for students to encourage the spirit of giving and feel the promised blessings of the Carillon Bell Tower.

Through these lovely bells will sound the great melodies which have motivated the people of the Lord's Church in the past and will lift our hearts and inspire us in the second century--with joy and even greater determination, President Kimball said during the centennial celebration in October 1975.

President Oaks also said that the Carillon Bell Tower would feed souls and express cultural and artistic values.

Each bronze bell is a part of a set of six, each playing a different note. Sheffield said he liked how that connected to the songs of the actual tower.

When I heard the carillon clang the 'Come, Come Ye Saints,' that all can be well, no matter what circumstance were in, it resonated with me, Sheffield said.

Annie Rex, a student involved with alumni and Choose 2 Give, said that this addition has been motivating for the colleges and the students.

He just did it all on his own. Its been awesome that hes just really put all of the work in, and that we just get to be the recipients of it and then push it out to the general population, Rex said.

Sheffield also arranged for additional donations to be made to colleges that reached their participation goals during Choose 2 Give.

Its been a great motivation for the colleges as well because they have an extra reason to be gathering these donations, Rex said.

Rex mentioned that this has been a good unifier for students during the sesquicentennial celebration.

When I thought about the sesquicentennial, I thought, what could be better? Sheffield said.

When the Carillon Bell Tower was dedicated 50 years ago, President Oaks wore traditional attire from 1875, tying the bell tower to the origin of BYU 100 years earlier. Sheffield said he felt like this was a way to tie the sesquicentennial to the history of the bells.

The new, largest bell at the tower can be found on the north side of the tower.