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Recent Shared Stories
- By: Royce Hough '59A successful Annual Fund is vitally important to Washington and Lee’s financial well-being. The Annual Fund makes a significant contribution to the operating budget, limiting tuition increases and strengthening the academic program. Participation in the Annual Fund creates a tangible link with our Alma Mater in that each donor is making an investment in its […]Royce Hough '59
- By: Chris Wolf '80LSome give to the W&L Annual Fund for sentimental reasons and some for purely parochial reasons—to provide resources that will help ensure the reputation of our alma mater, so that our degree retains its prestige. In each of the 29 years since my graduation from the law school at W&L, I have supported the annual fund for one fundamental reason—to help […]Chris Wolf '80L
Some give to the W&L Annual Fund for sentimental reasons and some for purely parochial reasons—to provide resources that will help ensure the reputation of our alma mater, so that our degree retains its prestige. In each of the 29 years since my graduation from the law school at W&L, I have supported the annual fund for one fundamental reason—to help make it possible for others to have the same opportunity I did to obtain a first-rate education. Without the support of alumni, the university cannot provide the same opportunities to the current generation of students that we enjoyed. So, I view it both as a kind of “moral obligation” and “pay-back,” because without the support of others when I was a student, I would not have been able to achieve what I have today. In these challenging economic times especially, those of us who can contribute should do what we can to provide the support that is more needed than ever.
A successful Annual Fund is vitally important to Washington and Lee’s financial well-being. The Annual Fund makes a significant contribution to the operating budget, limiting tuition increases and strengthening the academic program. Participation in the Annual Fund creates a tangible link with our Alma Mater in that each donor is making an investment in its long term excellence and stability. In addition and importantly, participation also creates a personal bond among alumni through the dedicated efforts of loyal Class Agents, who volunteer their time and effort to inform and encourage their classmates. While dollars raised in the Annual Fund are the bottom line, the extent of participation by alumni is of great importance. While nearly one-half of our alumni contribute to the Annual Fund each year, this percentage should and can be higher. Thirty years ago when I was chairman of the Annual Fund, we were approaching the first $1 million year and participation by nearly 40% of alumni. We have come a long way since then, but there is much further we can go.