2008 Giving Challenge
April 28, 2008
Fellow Alum:
It was great to see and fellowship with so many Alumni during Reunion Weekend April 11-13, 2008.
During this weekend, myself along with several other Alumni were moved to take action and assist the Black Alumni Chapter (BAC) in raising funds for the BAC Scholarship, after we learned of the financial obstacles African American students are facing who have made JMU their first choice of higher education.
The BAC scholarship provides financial assistance to as many students as possible, but our scholarship endowment needs much more funding to increase our giving impact to African American students who want to attend JMU. The university is making great strides to increase its diverse community but there is only so much that the university can do on its own. This is a “CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL BLACK ALUMNI” of JMU.
During this centennial year of our Alma Mater, the BAC Alumni are taking it upon ourselves to launch its first Black Alumni giving campaign, "$100 for the 100th." We are asking each JMU Black Alumni to donate a minimum of $100 to the BAC Black Alumni Scholarship by Homecoming, October 31, 2008. Our goal is to raise $20,000 for the endowment by Homecoming of this year.
Two years ago the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity collectively donated $5,000 to the BAC scholarship. During alumni weekend Ramon Sutherland, class of 1993 and members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, issued a challenge to David Ellis, class of 1989 and members of Kappa Alpha Psi, that collectively the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha would surpass their gracious donation of two years ago. Ramon & David are equally challenging an alum representative from each of the historically Black Greek lettered organizations to accept the challenge and organize there membership in this giving campaign.
We cannot do it alone, so whether you are a member of one of these organizations or not, we need your support. We all have one thing in common, we are Alum of JMU and we have a duty to support our future generations in their pursuit of higher education. Collectively, individually, and with corporate match programs, we believe we can meet our fundraising goal. To whom much is given much is expected.
Please send your generous tax deductible donations of $100 or more designated to the Black Alumni Chapter Scholarship – Account #25269 to:
Advancement Gifts & Records
Attn: Heidi Findley
MSC 3603
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
findlahx@jmu.edu
If your company does corporate matching, please mail your check along with your matching gift form to the address above. To see if your company has a matching gifts program please visit http://www.matchinggifts.com/jmu/.
You may also give online: http://www.jmu.edu/give. Be sure to designate your gift to the JMU Black Alumni Chapter Scholarship, Account #25269 in the Gift Designation box.
For more information on this campaign, please contact Vanessa Evans at or Ramon Sutherland. Please forward this call to action to all Black Alumni which you have contact information. We will be updating you monthly on how we stand against our goal.
Sincerely,
Ramon Sutherland,‘93
David Ellis,‘89
LaTrese Coates,‘93
Co Chairs, "$100 for the 100th" BAC Scholarship Campaign