Fall beckoned but a summer spirit lingered at the Celebration of the 51吃瓜网 Annual Fund, held in late September at Tavern on the Green in New York City鈥檚 Central Park. More than 200 alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends toasted a record year of giving.
鈥淭he annual fund was integral to TC鈥檚 hugely successful Campaign,鈥� said TC Board Chair Bill Rueck颅ert. 鈥淎nd thanks to you, we achieved our goal to increase participation in the Fund.鈥�
IN CIRCULATION President Tom Bailey with Mami Fleming and Jennifer Abbate, alumnae of TC鈥檚 Bilingual/Bicultural Education program.
Alumni participation is 鈥渁 measure of spirit and com颅munity,鈥� said Annual Fund Director Richard Hutzler, and TC鈥檚 health is good: A record 900 alumni and friends made first-time Fund donations this past fiscal year. The Class of 2018 made the first-ever class gift totaling over $5,000. Nearly 2,000 Maxine Greene Society members (donors for three or more consecutive years) extended support.
Alumni in attendance ranged from John Dewey Circle members who donate $1,000 or more annually to first-time donors who gave 鈥�$5 for TC.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to celebrate both large and small donors,鈥� said Leah Werner-Evans (M.A. 鈥�14).
RECORD TURNOUT And a good time was had by all.
鈥淚 had a TC scholarship,鈥� said first-time donor Katherine Morgenegg (M.A. 鈥�17). 鈥淚 want other students to have the same opportunities.鈥�
鈥淚 benefited from donations and wanted to give back,鈥� said long颅time Maxine Greene Society member Seah Myers (M.S. 鈥�89), who brought her daughter 鈥渢o see why it鈥檚 important to give.鈥�
The Annual Fund was integral to TC's hugely successful Campaign.鈥�
鈥擝ill Rueckert, Chair of TC Board
Senior Director of Alumni Relations Rosella Garcia said that alumni strengthen TC by attending events, volunteering, nomi颅nating peers for awards and maintaining the TC spirit.
TC鈥檚 new President, Thom颅as Bailey, a 27-year TC faculty member, said that leading the College has given him a new appreciation for fundraising 鈥� in particular for unrestricted funding, 鈥渨hich allows TC to direct support where it鈥檚 needed most each year鈥� 鈥� and a solid comfort level with leading the charge. 鈥淚t helps when you believe in the product.鈥�