Board issues a challenge

The CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE campaign is heating up. All 12 members of the Board of Visitors have collectively pledged a total of $250,000 to match up to $250,000 in increased gi s from alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and sta to support important new initiatives for UMW students and University programs.

Nanalou West Sauder ’56 contributed personal funds toward the challenge gift , and she encourages others to do the same. “I’m not a wealthy person, so I target my charitable giving to organizations and institutions that I think are worthy of my support,” she said. “The institution that gets the biggest chunk of my charitable giving is UMW. I like it there, and I like what’s happening with initiatives to move the University forward. Every gift to the University is important, regardless of the size.”

The CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE was launched last summer by Rector J. William Poole and board members Betty Ferguson Foster ’69 and Mona Davis Albertine ’71. The money raised will go toward projects on campus with the most immediate need.

“If these include modifications to our residence halls, updates to the curriculum, exciting ventures to combine both campuses with joint programming and shared faculty, and increased opportunities for our students to participate in international study,” Poole said. “We felt it was important for members of the Board of Visitors to offer assistance in these progressive endeavors.”

The CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE counts increased gift s made to the Fund for Mary Washington from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007. “If a supporter did not contribute to the Fund for Mary Washington during the 2005-06 campaign year, but does make a gift now, that entire amount will be matched by the Challenge,” Poole explained. “If a supporter did contribute to the Fund last year, and decides to increase the gift amount this year, the Challenge will matchdollar-for-dollarr the amount of that increase.”

For more information about the CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE or to make a gift , visit the UMW Foundation website at www.umw.edu/gift or call 540/654-1024.

– Donna Harter Raab, Director of Alumni and Development Communications