Seniors Give Back — in Record Numbers

(from left, all ’12): Louis Chai; Student Union president Herbert Rosen; Angela Chau; Catherine Bennett; Phi Li; Naureen Ali; co-chairs Anna Clarke, Allison Berger and Ariadne Lyon; Destiny Aquino; Ari Salinger; and John Homans.

President Fred Lawrence accepts the Senior Class Gift from the Class of 2012 Gift Committee (from left, all ’12): Louis Chai; Student Union president Herbert Rosen; Angela Chau; Catherine Bennett; Phi Li; Naureen Ali; co-chairs Anna Clarke, Allison Berger and Ariadne Lyon; Destiny Aquino; Ari Salinger; and John Homans.

They did it again!

For the second consecutive year, members of Brandeis’ most recent graduating class established a new participation record as nearly three-quarters of the Class of 2012 supported the Senior Class Gift.

“For the seniors to support the university in this way is a testament to the way they feel about their Brandeis educational experience,” says Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12, senior vice president of institutional advancement. “This is exciting to see and is a strong indicator that they will stay engaged with Brandeis after graduation.”

President Fred Lawrence and his wife, Kathy, agreed to contribute $10,000 to the gift if the Class of 2012 broke last year’s participation record of 71 percent. As of June 6, 74 percent of the class had given a total of $13,631.

Additionally, 35 percent of the seniors who supported the gift pledged to make a gift to the Annual Fund in each of the next five years.

Allison Berger ’12, Anna Clarke ’12 and Ariadne Lyon ’12 served as co-chairs of the Senior Class Gift Committee.

Seniors who made a gift wore blue-and-white medallions on their gowns during the May 20 Commencement ceremonies.

Gail (Corbin) Glover ’73 and Ron Glover ’73
Gail (Corbin) Glover ’73 and Ron Glover ’73

Investing in the Gateway to Success

Gail (Corbin) Glover ’73 heard it from her parents, and Ron Glover ’73 learned it from his grandmother: Education is the path to success.

Turns out they were right.

Gail and Ron — alumni of Brandeis’ pioneering Upward Bound and Transitional Year Programs, respectively — used their Brandeis diplomas as a foundation for enviable careers. Gail just retired after 36 years as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, and Ron serves as chief diversity officer at IBM.

To acknowledge the important role Brandeis has played in their lives, the Glovers have generously supported the university. Ron also recently joined the Alumni Association Board of Directors as a member-at-large.

“We feel it’s important to give back to the university to allow other students to have the same opportunities we had,” Gail explains. “As we have always told our children and other young people, ‘To whom much has been given, much more is expected.’”

Thanks to guidance and support from families who preached the value of education, the Glovers weren’t held back by a late-1960s Boston school system that tended to steer black children away from higher education. As Brandeis undergraduates, they found a supportive academic system, coupled with a diverse, accepting student body. The combination made for a transformative four-year experience.

“I came onto the Brandeis campus and fell in love with the place,” Ron says. “Sitting in classes, I realized it would challenge me and stimulate me, and I wouldn’t be left to sink or swim. I would be supported.”

Ron majored in political science while pursuing a minor in philosophy. Gail majored in African and Afro-American studies. As a student, Gail worked at the Lemberg Children’s Center and served as a student teacher. Ron was active in student government, becoming the first African-American to lead the Student Union.

Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12
Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12

Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders

As I write this letter, just days before the close of the fiscal year on June 30, I am optimistic that we will meet all our fundraising goals.

I am equally sanguine about the future, especially having seen the way that President Fred Lawrence has energized the Brandeis community – both on and off campus.

Strong fundraising enterprises such as ours rely on alumni, trustees, friends and corporations/foundations to make major gifts in support of student scholarships, faculty chairs and other top priorities. Yet we also devote significant resources to cultivating young alumni who will soon be responsible for leading and supporting the university.

With the help of many young alumni who work in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, we have established and nurtured two forward-looking programs that should help secure our future:

  • Our Senior Class Gift program continues to grow every year. This year, we set a new participation record of 74 percent, triggering a $10,000 gift from President Fred Lawrence and his wife, Kathy.

    It is a sign of a healthy institution that nearly three-quarters of the Class of 2012 felt so positively about their time at Brandeis that they wanted to support the class gift. As recently as 10 years ago, only about one-quarter of graduating seniors contributed.
  • Earlier this year, we launched Bold (Brandeisians of the Last Decade), a new alumni engagement initiative designed specifically for the more than 8,500 people who received undergraduate degrees from the university during the past 10 years (27 percent of the alumni population).

    Preliminary returns are very encouraging. The Bold launch events held around the country attracted large crowds, and the number of Bold alumni who made gifts to Brandeis in fiscal year 2012 was up significantly from last year.

It is exciting to see that our young alumni are stepping forward.

Sincerely, 

Nancy Winship signature
Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12

Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement


JFEW Gives $900K for Students

The Jewish Foundation for Education of Women (JFEW) has given $900,000 to Brandeis to provide scholarship aid, summer internship stipends, and programming for students interested in advancing Jewish life and the role of women in it.

As part of the JFEW/Brandeis Scholars program, JFEW will provide $10,000 scholarships annually to up to 10 students. The first group of students will be selected from the Class of 2016.

“Brandeis and JFEW are natural partners, deeply rooted in the same community and strongly committed to the same values,” Brandeis President Fred Lawrence says. “We are delighted to work with JFEW to provide undergraduate scholarships to deserving students.”

“For over 130 years, JFEW has supported aspiring women who want to learn and to achieve,” JFEW President Jill Smith says. “We are pleased to be partners with Brandeis in continuing this work.”

Commencement Dinner

Brandeis alumni and friends from around the country gathered at the annual Commencement Dinner to recognize the honorary-degree recipients and toast the Class of 2012.

Scholarship Luncheon

Brandeis scholarship recipients had the opportunity to spend time with the donors who support them at the annual Scholarship Luncheon. Trustee Daniel Elkaim ’81 hosted the event, and Shekeyla Caldwell ’14 delivered the keynote address.

New Fellows Announced

1. President Fred Lawrence, Laurel and Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12, senior vice president of institutional advancement. 2. Trustee Paul Zlotoff ’72, chair of the Board of Fellows; Robin; Trustee Malcolm Sherman, P’83; Fellow Barbara Sherman ’54, P’83; and President Fred Lawrence.

Fellows Laurel Friedman and Robin Sherman ’83 were hooded during a ceremony at the annual Fellows Breakfast before Commencement. 1. President Fred Lawrence, Laurel and Nancy Winship, P’10, P’12, senior vice president of institutional advancement. 2. Trustee Paul Zlotoff ’72, chair of the Board of Fellows; Robin; Trustee Malcolm Sherman, P’83; Fellow Barbara Sherman ’54, P’83; and President Fred Lawrence

Nine alumni and friends of Brandeis were elected to the Board of Fellows, an honorary society that recognizes members of the university family who have made significant contributions of their time and resources to Brandeis.

“We are pleased to welcome these new members to the Board of Fellows,” says Trustee Paul Zlotoff ’72, Board of Fellows chair. “All these individuals have helped Brandeis become the institution that it is today.”

Robert “Robin” Brooks ’57 served as president of the Alumni Club of Greater Boston and was a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Alumni Admissions Council. In 2010, he established a charitable gift annuity in honor of his parents.

Fern Davis Cohen ’62 and Hersh Cohen ’62 created an endowed scholarship for their 50th Reunion in honor of President Fred Lawrence, Fern’s cousin. Fern serves on the Alumni Admissions Council and is a life member of the Brandeis National Committee.

Hope Rabb Edison and Julian Edison, who were married in the Berlin Chapel at Brandeis in 1959, established the Julian and Hope Rabb Edison Endowed Scholarship and funded the Shapiro Science Center’s Edison Family Lobby. Hope’s father, Norman, was a founding trustee of Brandeis, and her mother, Eleanor, was a fellow. Her sister, Jane Rabb, was also just elected a fellow.

Linda Heller Kamm ’61 recently made a generous gift to the Annual Fund and also funded the Linda Heller Kamm '61 Prize, awarded annually to a student who demonstrates leadership in the advocacy of social justice.

Jane Rabb and her family are longtime Brandeis supporters. She is a member of the Sachar Legacy Society and was active with the Creative Arts Council. Her father, Norman, was a founding trustee of Brandeis, and her mother, Eleanor, was a fellow.

Dena Robbins has long been active with the Brandeis National Committee, serving on the national board from 2009-11. She was involved with BNC chapters in Greater Boston and Boca Raton, Fla. Dena, her late husband, Arnold, and their family have supported Brandeis.

Robin Sherman ’83 joins her mother, Barbara ’54, on the Board of Fellows. Robin formerly served as president of the Alumni Club of Greater Boston and was a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Her father, Malcolm, serves as chair of the Brandeis Board of Trustees.