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Reunion Classes Challenged to Make $200,000 Impact for Annual Fund

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By Dawn Medley 

2009-04-09

A small group of alumnae have enhanced the Reunion celebration this year by pledging to turn $100,000 into $200,000 in support for their alma mater. Reunion Challenge 2009 was announced during the weekend festivities by Alumnae/i Association President Dori Akerman Stiefel ’92, and conversation started to percolate immediately.

“I was planning to pledge at some point, but hearing about the commitment of the group of alumnae to match our funds convinced me that there was no better time to pull out the checkbook,” said Melissa Ford ’99 while participating in Reunion Weekend events.

The Challenge was issued by several alumnae who will match dollar-for-dollar gifts made to the college’s Annual Fund up to a total of $100,000. Claire “Yum” Lewis Arnold ’69, Beverly Estes Bates ’64, Cynthia Luck Haw ’79, Holly Vitullo ’89, and Ann Bowman Day ’74 will contribute the matching funds. New contributions and previous pledges that are paid by June 30 (the end of the fiscal year) will count toward the Challenge, explained Jen Hagen, director of the Annual Fund.

Two MBC alumnae talk at a special luncheon honoring those who graduated 50 or more years ago during Reunion Weekend“The challenge is designed to highlight the vital importance of Annual Fund gifts to the college, and to inspire our alumnae to give generously in honor of their Reunion,” she said.

Rather than pointing to this book or that scholarship and saying it was made possible by the Annual Fund, it is more appropriate to note that the fund supports large categories of the college budget. Annual Fund dollars allow MBC to “create our way forward,” a favorite phrase employed by President Pamela Fox this year, by helping provide money for the new RCW Student Stimulus package, student financial aid, the continuation of distinctive programs, a low student-faculty ratio, and much more.

Alumnae/i are encouraged to give to Mary Baldwin at any time, but special effort is made to inspire those observing a Reunion to contribute as they reflect on their time at the college. Graduates can watch the Hunt Dining Hall-style column fill as more funds are recorded on their class Web pages at www.mbc.edu/reunion and see a slide show of images from the weekend.

“Every dollar fuels our momentum,” Hagen said.