Charitable Reunions

Generous gift

Yale University celebrated the Class of  ’54’s contribution of more than $110 million, the largest class gift in the university’s history.

Yale manages its endowment well now, but 25 years ago its investment performance wasn’t good. In 1979, Richard Gilder and a group of his classmates attended their 25th reunion and proposed that they pool their donations. They’d entrust it to a professional money manager and turn over the principal and interest earned to Yale at their 50th reunion. After receiving nonprofit status, the 54/50 Fund was born. Forty class seeded it with $75,000 and 31 more put in about $300,000 at the 30th reunion.

The fund grew by a 37 percent compound rate of return on the original investment.

One classmate’s contribution of $5,000 grew to $2,562,000, another put in $15,000 and was credited for a gift of $3,501,791.

Found in the New York Times, in a story by Stephanie Strom

Class act

Flushing High School in Flint, Michigan, Class of 1960 classmate Jim Payne vowed to fly his old classmates to Hawaii for their 45th reunion. Fifty-six of them, as well as 45 spouses, have signed up for a trip to Maui next spring. Attendees will pay their own hotel and other expenses.

“I’m not doing this for publicity. It just seemed like a good way to get everyone together.” said Payne, who met with the reunion committee.

Reunion organizers admit they were skeptical at first, they thought he was kidding. Despite some mystery about the benefactor, classmates said they see no reason to disbelieve the offer. One classmate said the important thing isn’t the trip, it’s the way this has gotten people back in touch with each other and talking again.

From a story on Mlive.com and the Flint Journal by Elizabeth Shaw

Class donates reunion funds for trees

About 30 members of the Washington High School, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, class of 1934 are still alive. The 60th reunion was their last, so surplus funds from previous reunions will be used to purchase trees for the campus of Two Rivers High School. Classmate Norman Schmeichel has helped the Izaak Walton League beautify school grounds since construction was completed in 2002.

From an article by Amy Weaver in the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, Manitowoc,Wisconsin

School gets historical marker

The former Ballard-Hudson Senior High, Macon, Georgia, was built in 1949 as a merged public high school for black students in Bibb County. After desegregation in 1970, the building changed names to Southwest and then Southeast High School and closed in 2003.

Carolyn Chambers-Studgeon, a retired DeKalb County, Georgia, educator who’s involved in historic preservation, worked for two years to get an historical marker installed to commemorate the school. Chambers-Studgeon also organized a class reunion.

The first step to get the marker was to set up an archive at Washington Memorial Library in Macon. The collection includes yearbooks, graduation programs, report cards and individual files on notable students, teachers and administrators. The library makes photocopies if someone does not want to donate originals.

After gathering the appropriate historical information and vetting it with local agencies, Chambers-Studgeon applied for a historical marker from the private Georgia Historical Society in a competitive process.

From Maggie Large’s story in the Macon Telegraph, Macon, Georgia

Theatre renovation a class reunion project

Much of Newton (Kansas) High School’s Class of 1965 has left town, but thanks to their efforts a historic 90-year-old vaudeville house-turned-movie palace will make a comeback.

At the class reunion classmates from Atlanta, Washington, DC, and an oil platform in the Gulf of Alaska saw how bad downtown Newton looked and decided to do something. The Fox Theatre was vacant and could be acquired cheaply.

Eight members of the class formed a nonprofit organization called Historic Fox Theatre of Newton, Inc., and bought the theatre, which had been vacant for four years. They began staging events from community orchestra concerts to musical theater to weddings to help raise the $750,000 needed for restoration.

The City of Newton and Harvey County provided a professional grant writer and rehabilitation grant projects. Local businesses offered to pay some costs and organizers planned a rock concert to make up the rest of the cost.

From a story by Bud Norman in the Wichita Eagle, Wichita, Kansas

Needham Education Foundation

 The Needham Education Foundation (NEF) is an independent community-based not-for-profit organization whose mission is to raise and then distribute money for the enrichment of public school children in Needham, Massachusetts. Its fundraising programs include the annual Spelling Bee Fund-raiser, teacher recognition cards and a year-end appeal. NEF's purpose is to stimulate innovation and excellence by supporting educational programs that are outside normal public funding and to maintain a permanent fund to implement such programs and activities.

NEF began in 1990 when a handful of Needham High alumni celebrating their 50th class reunion started a seed fund to pass on their love of learning by underwriting education programs. To date, the NEF has awarded more than $700,000 in grants to support Needham schools.

From an article in the Needham Times, Needham, Massachusetts

Class reunion donates to Education Foundation

The Fayetteville (Arkansas) Public Education Foundation is an independent organization whose goal is to raise private money for Fayetteville schools. Interest from the endowment is used each year to provide grants to teachers.

Fayetteville High School graduates have started using their class reunions as an opportunity to raise money for the foundation. The Class of 1974 raised $6,000 at its recent reunion, surpassing the previous total of $2,600 raised at a reunion of the Class of 1954.

Approximately 160 people attended the 1974 reunion. Seventy percent contributed directly to the donation effort, giving an average of $75 each. The reunion steering committee said raising money for the foundation is a good way to give something back to the school.

Seven local businesses operated by 1974 graduates sponsored the reunion to keep the cost to attend down. Their contributions helped keep the cost of attending the reunion at a relatively low $30 per person. Reunion Committee Chairman Curt Rom said, “I thought if we could hold down our costs, that would facilitate people coming to the reunion and donating to the campaign.”

Among the living graduates who were located, about 30 percent showed up, which is a good attendance rate for class reunions, Rom said. “I believe part of that participation was that it was such an affordable event,” he added.

From an article by Brett Bennett in the Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Restoration recognized

The dedication of the murals and lobby at Wauwatosa (East) High School, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, was made possible by the hard work and dedication of volunteer alumni and their fundraising, sometimes at reunions. It was recognized in the Extension of Remarks section of the Congressional Record (Pg. E325) by Congressman Fortney Pete Stark of California, a 1946 Wauwatosa graduate. 

Stark said, in part: “I join in honoring all alumni, students, the community of Wauwatosa, the many volunteers who have worked for many months to bring these artifacts back to their former glory, as well as the artist, Myron C. Nutting [mural artist and Stark’s constituent], for all their contributions to work and restoration of the mural pieces. These are all wonderful contributions to the school's valued history and tradition.”

Submitted by one of the dedicated volunteers, Ray Py, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Cherry tree replacement plan

For 40 years, the cherry trees in the University of Washington Quad have bloomed with white then pink flowers to lift the spirits of students, employees and visitors who look to them as a sign of spring.

Beautiful as they are, these Japanese Yoshino cherry trees are doomed, nearing the end of their 60- to 100-year lifespan and they’ve begun to succumb to disease and fungus.

In 1999, during their 40-year class reunion, the Class of 1959 discovered the trees would be history in 10 to 15 years. They decided to take on the replacement project as a gift to the university. The alumni donated a single tree before endeavoring to raise money to replace all 33.

After several failed attempts to find and purchase replacement trees that would bloom at the same time in the same color as the existing trees, the UW Center for Urban Horticulture grafted new trees from clippings of the old ones. New trees, growing at a nursery, are each waiting their turn to replace all trees in the Quad.

Class of 1959 alumni have raised $85,000. With a contribution of $3,000 or more, donors are honored with a commemorative plaque on one of the quad's numerous stone benches beneath the trees.

From an article by Jessica Armstrong in the Daily, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

Gerena school aid

Massachusetts teachers Ursula K. Hogan of Enfield and Roger J. Hannigan of West Springfield, discussed the idea of a reunion at the time of their 2002 retirement as Gerena Community School teachers. Along with retired teacher Donald E. Hooton of South Hadley, the pair continued to volunteer at Gerena, where they had a combined total of almost 70 years as employees.

A committee of former and current Gerena teachers and students was formed to plan the reunion, with the intention of recruiting mentors for current Gerena students. The idea was to match adults' talents to children's needs. Mentors' voluntarism may include talking with students, tutoring them and visiting their classrooms. A “wall of fame,” with mentors' photos and biographies, will be established in the school cafeteria.

From a story in The Republican, Springfield, Massachusetts

Drury class donates money for projector

Members of the Drury (Massachusetts) High School Class of 1955 celebrated their 50th class reunion and donated $2,000 to the school to cover the cost of purchasing a multimedia liquid crystal display projector.

Fundraising projects are part of class reunion packages sent to members.

Ten years earlier, the class raised $7,000 at its 40th reunion to purchase what was a state-of-the-art computer system at the time. Optional donations raised money to purchase the projector, and to donate $1,000 to the North Adams Public Library. The class also purchased a brick from the library capital fundraising campaign; the brick will read "Class of 1955."

Some class members said their children attended the school and some have grandchildren in the system now, so their own families benefit from donations.

From an article by Jennifer Huberdeau in the North Adams Transcript, North Adams, Massachusetts

High school sweethearts equip shop class

Russ James met his wife Barbara at South Beloit High School. The couple celebrated their 50th class reunion and 50th wedding anniversary by making a donation to the school where they fell in love.

Russ James saw that the school's Industrial Arts room lacked equipment, and since he benefited from the hands-on education he received, he couldn't imagine what skills students were learning without proper equipment. “I've used those skills throughout my career.”  What James learned at SBHS, specifically in the shop, led him to be a successful business owner.

South Beloit moved into its new high school in 2002 to give the district room to grow in the future. But budget restraints allowed the district to purchase only hand tools and three small power tools for the Industrial Arts program. The district compiled a wish list and made it available to the community.

The couple donated $10,000 to purchase tools and equipment for the shop. With the money, teacher Chris Marshall was able to outfit the shop with a table and band saws, lathes and drill presses, hand tools and a dust collection system.

From an article by Ann Montgomery in the Beloit Daily News, Beloit, Wisconsin

School reunion helps get elevator

The Ludlow, Kentucky, school system’s first all-class reunion for graduates of Ludlow High School was held to reconnect alumni as well as raise money for an elevator to transport disabled students within the building.

Alumni from as early as 1941 and as far away as California and Florida were expected to attend.

Ludlow high and middle school buildings have five levels, and there is no way for students in wheelchairs to move from level to level within the building. The schools are expecting two such students soon from the elementary school. In addition, elderly relatives will be able to use the elevator when attending graduations.

From an article by Karen Gutierrez in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio

The 1952 Fund plans first award in 2007

The Class of 1952 was the first in Wilkes County, Georgia, to complete school through the twelfth grade. The 1952 Fund was established in 2002, at the group's 50th class reunion.  The stated purpose of the scholarship fund is “to aid graduating seniors of Washington High with tuition in college.” The first scholarship will be presented at the 55-year reunion of the class, to be held in 2007.

From an article in the News-Reporter, Washington, Georgia

Laughter to benefit Project Graduation

For the fourth straight year, the Middletown (CT) High School Project Graduation Committee turned to humor to fund a very worthy cause.  Project Graduation hosted the Bayside High Comedy Alumni Reunion, a production by the New York Dinner Theater. The original show is a funny and interactive performance and dinner, designed to involve the audience as the “alumni.”

The brand new show is a humorous take on a high school class reunion, complete with audience cheerleader contests and king and queen elections. Audience participation is very important, and the cast actively engages diners in conversation as part of the show. The humor can be a little racy, so it’s not recommended for children. However, open-minded individuals will get a chance to laugh at fellow “alumni,” as well as subjecting themselves to a bit of good-natured ridicule. The script includes love triangles and plenty of petty class politics. Since its inception, Project Graduation has been dedicated to providing graduating students with an alcohol- and drug-free celebration to the end of high school.

From an article by Matthew Engelhardt in the Middletown Press, Middletown, Connecticut

Class of 1956 endows scholarship

When Mount Union College (Alliance, Ohio) Golden Anniversary class committee members met to plan their 50th anniversary celebration, they asked the class to raise $20,000 for a scholarship to be given annually to a deserving Mount Union student in the name of the Class of 1956. The amount would be enough to fund an annual scholarship of $1,000, based on need and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Class members gave and pledged $20,270; an additional $10,000 pledged from the estate of a class member will eventually increase the scholarship to $1,500 per year.

From Mount Union College Athletics, Alliance, Ohio

Stonewall graduates planning first all-class reunion

“The West Side is the best side,” was the theme for Stonewall Jackson West High School's first all-class (1941-1989) reunion, which was also a fundraiser for Stonewall Jackson Middle School.  Activities included a social with a six-piece band and appetizers, a golf tournament, doubles tennis tournament, open house, brunch at Stonewall Jackson Middle and a dinner dance.

The dinner dance band performed songs from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, while another band played music from the ’70s and ’80s. Former men's and women's coaches from Stonewall Jackson High School were honored.

Money raised from the reunion goes to middle school maintenance, its athletic programs and other academic needs. The school's priorities include an expanded Accelerated Reader program, updated computer labs, new desks, additional Advanced Placement teacher training and dry-erase boards for classrooms.

Reunion organizers are hopeful the reunion will spark interest among local businesses to take ownership in the school and community. Contact Stonewall Jackson Alumni Association, PO Box 6283, Charleston WV 25362; www.stonewallreunion.com.

From an article by Jessica M. Karmasek in the Daily Mail – Charleston, Charleston, West Virginia.

Memories after the war: Class donates memorabilia

Sometimes memories are less important to those who make them than to generations that follow.

Batesville (Arkansas) High School Class of 1946 members donated important memorabilia to the high school as part of the class’s 60th reunion weekend. Class members spent months digging through boxes, envelopes and parcels sent by ’46ers and their families. Members were asked to donate school items: yearbooks, letterman jackets, photos, report cards, yearbooks, embroidered sweaters, programs, notes and a letter signed by the mayor proclaiming a special appreciation day for the class of 1946. These items will be displayed permanently at the high school.

The class of ’46 members hope future generations learn from their accomplishments and take steps to safeguard their own histories. Donated memorabilia can be a wonderful reminder to students. If you don’t tell them how things were, how are they going to know?

From a story by Jon Trobaugh in the Batesville Daily Guard, Batesville, Arkansas

Reunion gets fund off to good start

A reunion held to help raise funds for athletics at Arthur Voaden Secondary School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, got the drive off to a healthy start toward its $25,000 goal. A recent Vikings reunion weekend attracted close to 500 alumni to celebrate athletic and academic achievements over the past 79 years, and netted $7,000 to help relaunch the junior football program.

Organizers said they wanted to hold an event in which enjoyment and socializing accompanied fund-raising for new helmets and shoulder pads. The drive got a boost from an anonymous donation of 17 football helmets. Other fundraising events include a Poor Boy’s Lunch in fall and a golf tournament in spring.

From the St. Thomas Times-Journal, Canada

Class of 1956 endows student assistance

Members of the Ottawa, Illinois, Marquette High School (MHS) Class of 1956 announced that their endowment is now fully funded at more than $50,000. They will begin providing financial assistance grants to MHS students for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Open Endowment Fund was created in 2001 by class members as appreciation for the education they received at MHS and as a means to help insure these same opportunities will be available to future generations of young people. The MHS Foundation will manage the fund.

From MyWebTimes.com, Ottawa, Ilinois

Friends, classmates build scholarship fund in former senator's name

The late Larry Trail was a Tennessee state senator, lawyer and farmer. A scholarship fund was started by his Woodbury Central High School, Class of 1970, classmates to honor his legacy and promote student success.

His friends and family wanted him remembered in a special way, and the idea for the scholarship fund evolved. The $1,000 Larry Trail Memorial scholarship award will be given to a Cannon County (Tennessee) High School student who maintains at least a 3.5 GPA. Candidates must submit a 500-700 word essay explaining their academic accomplishments. To donate or apply to the Larry Trail Memorial scholarship fund, contact Cannon County High School, 1 Lion Drive, Woodbury TN 37190; 615-563-2144.

From a story by Alicia Pickett in the Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Pensacola High graduates donate computer

With a little help from the past, Pensacola (Florida) High School students are a little closer to the future. The Class of 1956 donated a new computer to the school. Five years ago, the alumni donated a big-screen TV for the media center.

It is part of their commitment to make sure the youngest Tigers have the best technology.

 “We hope to do this periodically,” said retired Army Brig. Gen. Michael Ferguson. “We hope this enhances capability for information technology.” The computer creates a scrolling electronic bulletin board. All teachers have to do is turn on the TV.

Alumna Cynthia Dean admitted they originally wanted to donate books. But the school said a computer would help them out more.

From a story by Nicole Lozare in the Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, Florida

Class of 1956 leaves a $3,000 footprint

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its graduation from East High School in Auburn, New York, the Class of 1956 presented a check for $3,000 to the Auburn Education Foundation. Class members wanted to leave a “footprint” in Auburn that would satisfy their desire to pay back the community for an excellent education.

The Auburn Education Foundation’s mission directly benefits local school-age children. Organizers promoted the idea at the class reunion dinner in September, and classmates pledged their support.

The project grew into a national effort when class president George Ireland in Rhode Island and classmate George Crolick in Minnesota spearheaded the project's promotion. Crolick enlisted the assistance of Operation Auburn, an electronic newsletter to publicize the campaign.

Back in Auburn, John Butera and Dick Boedicker followed up with classmates who promised contributions. A mailing was sent to all classmates, 75 percent of whom live outside of Auburn. Alumni were very supportive.

Not content to simply make its own donation, the committee has contacted organizers from the East High Classes of 1957 and 1958 to make similar donations.

The Auburn Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public foundation whose mission is to provide for innovative programs that enhance education through extended learning opportunities in the Auburn public schools. To date, it has funded 27 creative projects through its educator grants program and has developed meaningful partnerships with area businesses and organizations.

From an article by Leslie Leary in the Auburn Citizen, Auburn, New York

Class of 1982 scholarship program

Members of the Quincy (California) High School Class of 1982 are celebrating their silver anniversary and they want to award a scholarship to a Quincy senior. Dennis Muir, one of the reunion organizers, learned that the rural area has few scholarships to offer graduating seniors. “Many of us were recipients of scholarships for vocational or technical schools or to a college or university,” Muir said.

They hope to raise $1,000 for the scholarship. Muir suggested a donation of $50 (that’s $2 for every year since graduation). Muir also asked his New York City employer for a matching pledge for the amount the class raises.

From a story by Victoria Metcalf in the Plumas County Newspapers, Plumas county, California

Class makes $15,000 donation

Generosity is one tie that holds the Huntington (West Virginia) High School Class of 1960 together. A group of about 200 graduates who frequently e-mail one another decided to donate the class’s memorial fund (which they had been collecting since high school) to the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center for restoration of the theater. Classmate Joe A. McVay Jr., who attended the theatre as a child with his grandmother, matched the amount raised for a total $15,000 donation.

The Class of 1960 had a strong interest in preserving the theater. All the graduates had stories or memories they recall about the Keith-Albee, and all of them wanted to see it restored.

From a story by Krystal S. Mayville in The Parthenon, Huntington, West Virginia

Rare gifts rain on Yale

David Richards, a real estate lawyer in New York City, spent the last quarter century hunting down all things Rudyard Kipling. For his class’s 40th reunion, he was giving it all to Yale University, including first-edition copies of The Just So Stories, tea sets, posters and cigar boxes decorated with the British writer's face. The gift, worth $1.4 million, puts Yale's Kipling collection on par with those at Harvard and the University of Texas.

Anyone can write a check. But for the love of Yale, some alumni have given sapphires from a gemologist, deep sea coral from a marine biologist and British poetry from a dealer in Americana. The treasures are not counted in Yale's $18 billion endowment.

Dwight Heath, a retired anthropology professor, had a similar idea when he donated about 2,000 West African masks, spears and metal bracelets to Yale, to add to the art gallery's new African art section. The university also received several thousand specimens of deep sea invertebrates from two marine biologists who studied at Yale and wanted to build on the collection that had inspired them as students.

From a story by Kim Martineau in the Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut

Reunion classes increase giving

More than 3,200 alumni and guests gathered to renew their Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) connections and learn the totals given by various classes. Classes from 1922 through 2007 donated a total of $53,869,125. The Class of 1957--in their new red blazers granted at their 50th reunion--added to their class history of philanthropy with a five-year giving total of $12,568,341.  A total of 68.7 percent of class members made a gift.

Three classes set new giving records: 80th reunion Class of 1927 $8,902,542; 45th reunion Class of  1962 $8,848,145; and 35th reunion Class of 1972 $3,774,133. The 60th reunion Class of 1947 reached a notable participation level at 81.6 percent.

From a story by Nancy DuVergne Smith in MIT News, Massachusetts.

$25,000 for 25th reunion gift

Mount View Class of 1982 in Thorndike, Maine, gathered to celebrate its 25th reunion, and a group of classmates set their sights on raising $25,000 for a class gift to the new Mount View Performing Arts Center.The idea for the gift began with a challenge from ’82 alumnus Rob Nielsen, who lives in Tennessee. He invited his classmates to join him in supporting the Mount View Performing Arts Center campaign when he contributed $10,000 to the campaign.“Rob said if the class of 1982 can raise $10,000, he would match it with another $10,000 gift,” said Alicia Nichols, campaign director. Raising $15,000 as a class was proposed, which together with Nielsen’s gift would mean a $25,000 gift to Mount View in honor of its 25th reunion.
A letter went to 115 classmates asking them to consider a gift of at least $100 in addition to $4000 already raised. Children and grandchildren of the class of 1982 will be able to grace that very stage when the new school opens in fall 2009.

Reunion contacts are Eileen Ellis, 207–722–3122, eaellis14@yahoo.com; Deb Piper, 608-873-0353, deb.piper@wpt.org; Tim Fallon, 610–965–8821, tfallon@tsfconsulting.net.

From a story in VillageSoup, Belfast, Maine