American Magazine: August 2014

Giving is a personal
endorsement of
the university and
the experiences
alumni have here,
and it helps solidify
AU’s prominence.
GIVING TO ONE’S ALMA MATER does more than demonstrate
gratitude, an ongoing connection to the institution, and a
commitment to the educational values of the university.
It’s also a sign of community.
Toby McChesney, SPA/BA ’02, generously gave $25,000 in the
hope of challenging his fellow alumni to join him in making a gift
by the end of the academic year. When we were approaching our
goal of 1,000 donors, alumnus Rajiv “RJ” Narang, SPA/BA ’02,
stepped up and gave a gift of $5,000 to extend the challenge for
an additional 500 donors. We reached 1,575 donors in all. Alumni
answered the call. They met and surpassed both goals.
In fact, during the fiscal year, thousands of donors gave more
than $1.9 million to our annual funds, providing financial aid for
students and money that provides the lifeblood for much of AU.
This says a lot about AU community and AU pride. Giving is
a personal endorsement of the university and the experiences
alumni have here, and it helps solidify AU’s prominence. But
giving is just one demonstration of AU pride.
Another indicator is the personal time alumni offer to the AU
community. Just last year, there were more than 13,000 contacts
between alumni and students, and more than 1,200 alumni
volunteers involved in the life of the university.
Nearly 1,000 people participated in activities tied to the men’s
basketball team’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Alumni
also rallied around the women’s basketball team, which received
an at-large bid to a postseason tournament for the first time ever.
And the women’s volleyball team not only went to the NCAA
Tournament but also beat Georgia and Duke to make it to the
Sweet 16, its best showing ever.
As we prepare to welcome an unprecedented number of
freshmen this fall, now is the time for alumni to demonstrate to
those new students their commitment to AU. That will instill
in these freshmen—and those in future classes behind them—
a similar lifelong commitment to the university.
We work hard to nurture that kind of engagement, and
I know that we’ll continue to do that very well. Alumni are a
critical part of our success. Giving is something we can do
together—as a community—to demonstrate our strength, and
further strengthen, American University.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Minar, PhD
Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations
38 AMERICAN MAGAZINE AUGUST 2014