As a teacher, $750-1,000 might be a stretch for my wife and I. I can usually do around $500. I thought the Champs mailer was nicer this year, but I really wish we had some people from the alumni center or even students calling and really selling it. As long as the students had some hard numebrs to throw at the people, and were willing to really sell the idea of, support any support helps.
Like someone said people procrastinate, and the brochure can end up under a pile, in the trash, etc. A person actually requesting aid sticks with you a little longer. I am sure we would even have some student groups on campus willing to make calls, it wouldn't have to be paid student workers. We just need to arm them with the right information for the sales pitch.