development news - Virginia State University

Golden Anniversary Class Exceeds Challenge
By January 2009, Virginia State University
Class of 1959 had already
raised $55,000, exceeding VSU’s
class goals of $50,000.
But Dr. Ada M. Elam and the Class
of 1959 Reunion Committee were
just beginning.
“We sent a letter in January stating
that we needed a real push to reach
our real goal of $100,000. We’d set
that amount to help our University
and I was determined that we
would get there,” said Elam, who
led the fundraising efforts for the
Golden Anniversary Class of 1959.
The group of about 20 alumni from
the Class Reunion Committee had
established two goals at the start
of their campaign to raise $100,000
for their Golden Anniversary: to
support the University to help
it weather the tough, economic
times and to facilitate a connection
between classmates.
They challenged themselves to
place among the top class gifts. The
class of 1956 had raised $225,000
for its Golden Anniversary gift and
the Class of 1957, about $111,600.
“We knew if we tried very hard we
could exceed my sister J. Corene
Elam’s Class of 1957,” Elam said. “We
really didn’t think we had a chance
of beating the Class of 1956.”
By March, the Reunion Committee
had reached out to 88 active
alumni and the amount climbed
to $70,000. Slowly, but surely, the
funds crept toward the goal as
more calls were placed to class
members, encouraging more
generosity. By May, the class had
reached its $100,000 goal and
eventually exceeded it by over
$1,000.
“We accomplished both goals, and
I am so very proud of my class,”
said Elam, a retired educator who
taught at Bowie State University,
George Washington University and
Campus College in Athens, Greece.
“We ended up in the top three and
that was a great success. Future
classes should try to meet the challenge.”
Elam said campus festivities during
Alumni Weekend were special
for her and her college friends.
She said some classmates were so
adamant about celebrating their
Golden Anniversary that one cut
short her vacation in an exotic
destination.
“We wanted to come back and
show our respect for a university
that trained us to become good
citizens of this country and gave us
the foundation to pursue other degrees
in all areas. We were so happy
to be able to come together after
50 years and share success stories.”
Elam said the experience of fellowshipping
with friends from the past,
while simultaneously helping to expand
opportunities for current and
future VSU students was priceless.
“We were all so excited to be there
and were very pleased with the expansion
on campus,” she said. “This
is the institution that gave us a start
and we see that VSU is upholding
its reputation as being a leading
institution not only among Historically
Black Colleges and Universities,
but all institutions of higher
learning. People are still calling and
sending notes about it.”
The Class’ theme was “Our road
to success, in retrospect and in
prospect”
“Back when we were younger, if
VSU and others schools didn’t admit
us, we probably would not have
gotten the education we needed,”
Elam said. “At that time, blacks
were not given the full opportunity
to obtain higher education and
Virginia State University gave us the
chance. We are indebted to Virginia
State University. The Class of ’59
is continuing the legacy by giving
back and promoting education
within our community.”
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
23