Class of 1954: Celebrates Good Times
It's nicknamed “The Sunroom” – a bright, cozy space on the main floor of Abbe Hall – and the Class of 1954 is raising $50,000 to endow it.
“We all have fond memories of the campus on sun-filled afternoons,” said Class President Tony Tartaglia. Added Class ReUnion Volunteer Richard Herman: “We were happy to give a gift that was memorable, and this is a unique opportunity – a cheerful, sunny room that lends itself to small meetings. Everyone is very excited about Abbe Hall.”
The giving history of this class – the first post-war class without a large contingent of WWII veterans – certainly qualifies as memorable. Phil Beuth donated the library atrium and William Burns also has been very generous in his giving.
The Class of 1954 was “the first that was overwhelmingly made up of young high school graduates,” noted Tartaglia. “There was a bond, as a class, right from the start of the four-day orientation camp at Pilot Knob. We were a wonderful, close-knit class that developed a real camaraderie that has lasted for many years.”
Class of 1974: Where They Belong
The Great Room is the gathering place, the heart, of South College. The class is working to raise $125,000 in support of the renovation of the room.
“We wanted to do something tangible and worthwhile to rally our class and come up with an increased amount of giving, beyond what we usually do, as part of our ReUnion year,” said Class Giving Co-Chair Dick Samuels. “We thought it was particularly worthwhile, given the positive experiences and sense of belonging that will be engendered through the house system, and the amount seemed an appropriate and achievable goal.”
“If our gift helps Union improve its competitive position and adds to the social environment of school at the same time,” said Class President Jim Brennan, “the students will be the winners and we will be proud to have assisted.”
To help increase participation in the project, Dr. Hans and Janet Dwyer Black offered a match of up to $25,000 in gifts, regardless of size, for several months preceding ReUnion.
Class of 1979: Matches Up
ReUnion volunteer Jim Lippman wants his Class of 1979 classmates to become donors alongside him, and he wants them to attend ReUnion.
To make both prospects more appealing, Lippman will donate a match for every new gift – that is, a gift by any classmate who didn't give last year. He'll also match every increase in gifts by past donors this year.
He has allocated $100,000 for these matching gifts, which includes $50,000 that he already has committed.
Such encouragement is not new for Lippman, who earlier challenged his fellow alums on the 15th and 20th anniversaries of their graduation.
“I have a long history at Union,” said Lippman. “I'm a legacy; my dad was Class of 1950; my brother, Class of 1982.” His father's best friends, and his own, he noted, are from Union.
“Based on my love of Union, I wanted to create some stimulus for giving money,” he said. “Almost more important than raising money is to get people to come back for ReUnion.”
Lippman's work in this arena is far from complete. Never one to miss an opportunity to advance his alma mater, he recently took part in a phone-a-thon in New York City, along with two ReUnion chairs, Class Giving chair, and other class volunteers. They raised $18,000 in a single night.