GW Impact- Summer 2010

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Spring 2010

Report on Philanthropy

The Scottish Rite, one of GW’s oldest endowments, is also its largest scholarship supporter, page 6 


Report on Philanthropy

Table of Contents Funding Knowledge Health Care Entrepreneurs take First Place

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The Sound of Philanthropy Grants Fund New Research Programs on Global Security

GW Power & Promise The Scottish Rite Scholarship Legacy

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Larry King: Media Legend and Scholarship Benefactor Mary H. Futrell Scholarship Fund: GW Pays Tribute to 15 Years of Service GW Law School Receives $1 Million Gift for Scholarship Fund Celebrating Scholarships and Fellowships

Annual and Planned Giving A Home-Grown Investment with Countless Returns

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2010 Senior Class Day Celebration

w w w. g w u. e d u / GI V E

Strength in Numbers Roth IRA Conversion Now Available

GW Impact is published by the Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

Wall Street Symposium Showcases Luther Rice Financial Services Alliance Annual Giving Soars Ahead

The Student Experience Almost There! The Charles E. Smith Center Enters Final Stage of Transformation Student Aid Helps Squash the Competition

Inspired by Example Opportunity Inspires Alumnus to Pay It Forward Diana Henriques ’69 – Back to the Future

GW News GW Global Forum

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Vice President,Development and Alumni Relations Michael J. Morsberger

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Assistant Vice President for Communications, Development and Alumni Relations Patricia Danver

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Introducing Michael J. Morsberger A Capital Commencement

In Memoriam Robert H. Smith, Jeanette Michael, Abe Pollin

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Editor: David Garofalo Designer: Reingold, Inc. Photographers: Jessica McConnell Dave Scavone Julie Woodford William Atkins


Welcome

Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends: I am pleased to share the spring issue of GW Impact with you. GW Impact celebrates the alumni, parents, friends, and organizations who have made a philanthropic investment in The George Washington University and its future. The GW Power & Promise Fund continues to grow on all fronts with annual gifts as well as endowed scholarship. My wife, Michele, and I were very pleased to establish the Nelson and Michele Carbonell Engineering Scholarship. I attended George Washington on a trustee scholarship and it is a privilege to give back to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, which gave me an education and experience that I value to this day. I hope our gift will make it possible for the school to attract the best and brightest students no matter what their financial situation. There is very good news to share from Annual Giving. Those of us who make a gift every year to George Washington confirm our values and belief in this great university. We are pleased to report that in a year marked by economic uncertainty, Annual Giving is ahead of last year at this time in both dollars and the number of gifts, particularly in the GW Power & Promise Fund. You can read about these initiatives on Page 19. The commitment and loyalty of our young alumni are showcased in a profile of Jeremy Gosbee, CCAS BA ’98, GWSB MBA ’02, who made a significant gift to the Power & Promise Fund. GW seniors have also stepped forward with increased gifts to the Senior Class Gift, designated this year to the Gelman Library renovation project. Other inspiring stories in this issue include a gift to create a new scholarship in the Law School and funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to lead three cutting-edge international affairs research programs at the Elliott School. I also want to welcome Mike Morsberger as the new vice president of development and alumni relations. You can read about Mike on Page 26. With warmest regards,

Nelson Carbonell, SEAS BS ‘85 Chairman, Board of Trustees Development and Alumni Relations Committee

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Funding

Knowledge

Health Care Entrepreneurs take First Place Second Annual GW Business Plan Competition Showcases New Ideas HealthEworks, a service that customizes and improves health education for patients who are in urgent-care situations, won the $20,000 first-place prize at the GW Business Plan Competition held April 15-16. The money, along with a total of $10,000 awarded and split among three teams of runners-up, will help launch their start-up businesses. The competition is part of the GW Summit on Entrepreneurship and is sponsored by The George Washington University School of Business and its Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Winning team members Christina Johns, David Mathison, and Moh Saidinejad are all pediatric emergency room doctors. As health care providers, the gap in health education provided for patients became very apparent to them. This spurred the idea for HealthEworks, which will help patients better understand their illnesses. The GW Business Plan Competition finalists survived three rounds of competition over a twomonth period, and were selected from an original pool of more than 100 entries. During the final round held April 16,

each team presented creative and innovate business plans to a distinguished panel of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in a real-world presentation format modeled after venture capital presentations. First runners-up were James Albis and Raymond Marcovici, who presented two aromatherapy products to help reduce hunger and increase energy. Second runner-up was Ari Menase, who presented a plan to import Angus cattle to Turkey for breeding and local sale. Third runnersup were Richard N. Bradford and Kate Comiskey, who presented a plan for a personal security training service for federal employees. The GW Business Plan Competition, funded by donors Annette and Richard Scott, awards $30,000 in cash prizes to GW teams presenting great ideas for a new product or service. The Scotts’ daughter, Allison Scott Guimard, graduated from GW’s Business School in 2005. Visit alumni.gwu.edu/entrepreneurship for more photos from the events.

Above Left: HealthEworks receives its $20,000 first place check from Pierre Guimard, Allison Scott Guimard, BBA ’05, John Rollins, and Annette Scott, sponsor of the GW Business Plan Competition Above Center: Linda Rabbitt, GSEHD MA ’72, GW trustee and recipient of the GWERT Award for Distinguished Entrepreneurial Achievement, with President Steven Knapp Upper Right: Final four teams – Karmen, HealthEworks, ScentShots, and AEC, Inc – along with final round judges Lower Right: Jim Chung, director, Office of Entrepreneurship, listens to the presentations at the GW Summit on Entrepreneurship

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“This extraordinary gift allows us to offer our students American musical craft at its best,” said Karen Ahlquist, chair of the department.

The Sound of Philanthropy GW goes “All-Steinway” with Largest Ever Gift to Music Department From the Budokan in Tokyo to the Bokamoso Youth Centre in South Africa and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, GW musicians have performed around the world — but it starts in Foggy Bottom. Practicing countless hours a week in addition to classes and course work, student-musicians put music at the center of their GW education. Now, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the dedication of GW’s student-pianists will be matched by the quality of GW’s instruments. As part of the largest gift in department history, GW’s Department of Music will soon boast 28 new Steinway-designed pianos, making GW an official allSteinway university. This elite designation is shared by a small number of schools nationwide and places GW in the company of Juilliard, Yale, and the Curtis Institute of Music. “We are so appreciative of this very generous commitment to enrich the lives of our students and broaden the scope of our music programs,” said Peg Barratt, dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. In addition to providing the necessary funds for the pianos, the donor also contributed to the GW Power & Promise Fund, the University’s student aid initiative, in support of a new scholarship as well as to the existing George Steiner Music Scholarship fund. G W I mp a c t

“This extraordinary gift allows us to offer our students American musical craft at its best,” said Karen Ahlquist, chair of the department. “These instruments will bring out the essence of the music performed on them and handsomely reward the effort of practice.” Played in major concert halls across the world, Steinway pianos are widely recognized as one of the most prestigious instruments in the industry. GW’s new pianos will be used in the department’s teaching studios, practice rooms, performance hall, and recording studio; one will also be placed in President Knapp’s home at The F Street House. The pianos include a concert grand for Lisner Auditorium, nine other Steinway grand pianos, and 18 Steinway-designed Boston pianos. The Department of Music — which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — is part of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the largest of the University’s academic units with more than 40 departments and programs for undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. For more information about the GW Department of Music, visit www.gwu.edu/~music. To make a gift, visit www.gwu.edu/give.

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Funding

Knowledge

Grants Fund New Research Programs on Global Security The Elliott School has launched three major new research projects that will advance understanding of the evolving global security landscape. The three cutting-edge international affairs research programs — the Rising Powers Initiative, the Project on Middle East Political Science, and the Program on New Approaches to Regional Security Eurasia — will enhance scholarship and public policy awareness and inform international policymaking on global security issues. The programs are supported by nearly $2 million in grant funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. “These generous grants testify to the important role the Elliott School plays in illuminating the issues and informing the 4

policies that powerfully affect our nation and the world,” GW President Steven Knapp said. The Rising Powers Initiative will examine the internal foreign policy dynamics and identity issues of China, India, Russia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — actors whose behavior on the international stage will significantly influence US global engagement and international politics in coming years. A series of regional seminars and roundtables, course work, Washington briefings, website development, and a published book volume will enhance scholarship and public policy awareness of domestic debates within these countries about their place in Asian and world affairs.

This initiative, led by GW international affairs faculty members Deepa Ollapally, Henry R. Nau, and Mike Mochizuki, is housed in the Elliott School’s Sigur Center for Asian Studies, and is supported by a $349,900 grant from the Carnegie Corporation and a $300,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation. With a $475,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation, Marc Lynch, director of GW’s Institute for Middle East Studies, will lead an effort aimed at building political science expertise in the United States about the Middle East called the Project on Middle East Political Science. The initiative will develop Middle East specialists, who are in political science and international relations despite the significance of the region in global politics, economics, and national security. The project will create a network


» www.gwu.edu/give/powerandpromise

“These programs are superb examples of how GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs is bridging the academic and policy communities, bringing scholars and policy experts together, and making our world a better place,” said Michael E. Brown, dean of the Elliott School.

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Henry R. Nau, professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Deepa Ollapally, associate director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies, speak at a recent Sigur Center symposium.

of scholars; provide outreach, training, and opportunities for younger scholars to engage with peers, mentors, policymakers, and journalists; integrate regional expertise into public and policy debates; and prepare junior faculty for hiring and tenure at leading universities. This initiative will include the development of a high-impact outlet for online publication at Foreign Policy magazine’s Middle East Channel. In addition, The George Washington University will now lead the Program on New Approaches to Regional Security (PONARS) Eurasia. Founded in 1997 as a multinational network of scholars, PONARS Eurasia seeks to catalyze and sustain collaboration between US and Eurasian scholars on issues that are vital to global security and play out throughout Eurasia, such as nuclear proliferation, G W I mp a c t

ethnic conflict, terrorism, energy security, economic reform, climate change, statebuilding, and a host of others. PONARS Eurasia is supported by a $751,500 grant from Carnegie Corporation. “These programs are superb examples of how GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs is bridging the academic and policy communities, bringing scholars and policy experts together, and making our world a better place,” said Michael E. Brown, dean of the Elliott School.

through programs to meet global security challenges through nonproliferation, reduction, and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons; improving approaches to states at risk of instability or collapse; and enhancing US global engagement.

Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic foundation created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to do “real and permanent good in this world.”

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society.

The foundation works to achieve a more secure, peaceful, and prosperous world

(Reprinted from the Elliott School of International Affairs Briefing, Spring 2010) S pr i n g 2 010

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Power & Promis

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The Scottish Rite Scholarship Legacy 83-year Endowment Support Spans Generations at GW

The Scottish Rite currently has the

By Gray Turner With the launch of The George Washington Power & Promise Fund in December 2009, the University-wide effort to increase philanthropic support of student aid is well under way. The Scottish Rite — one of several appendant groups of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry — is a forerunner in establishing a tradition of scholarship support at George Washington, having provided scholarships to hundreds of students for more than 50 years. Created in 1927 by a $1 million gift from the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, the Scottish Rite Endowment is one of the oldest endowment funds at The George Washington University. The gift was the largest ever received by GW and among the largest ever made to a local education institution at the time. It honored the University’s namesake as a permanent memorial to “George Washington, the Mason.” ”Throughout the years, the University has benefited from the Scottish Rite endowment in various ways, including financing the acquisition of new hospital equipment, the establishment of the School of Government (now the GW School of Business), and the creation of a scholarship fund in 1956. Expanded in 1990 to increase the number and frequency of the scholarships and fellowships offered, the Scottish Rite Endowment Scholarship Program is now one of the largest scholarship providers at GW. “Since its inception in 1956, the Scottish Rite Endowment Scholarship Program at The George Washington University has assisted many young people in seeking higher education and achieving their life goals,” said Ron Seale, sovereign grand commander of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. “This is what we, as Scottish Rite Masons, are all about. This is a reflection of Illustrious Brother George Washington who, as a fellow Mason and Brother, lived his life in the service of others.” More than 300 undergraduate and graduate students have benefited from the generosity of the Scottish Rite since academic year 2002-2003. In 2009-2010, 48 undergraduate and graduate students were able to attend GW thanks to Scottish Rite scholarships and fellowships. To learn more about how you can set up a scholarship endowment and benefit generations of future GW students, please contact Matt Banks at mbanks@gwu.edu or 202-994-5125.

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largest endowed scholarship fund at the University, funding four scholarships and fellowships exclusively for GW students: • The Scottish Rite Endowment Graduate Fellowship Fund awards annual fellowships of $15,000 to GW graduate students who intend to study full- or part-time on GW’s Foggy Bottom campus in a graduate or doctoral program. • The Scottish Rite Undergraduate Scholarship Fund provides annual 50 percent tuition scholarships to GW undergraduates who have a relationship with the Scottish Rite. • The GW Education Fund at the Scottish Rite Foundation Fund for Special Education and Speech and Hearing was established in November 1995 with a gift of $245,000 by the late George F.S. and Florence Bichan. The fund provides two annual $10,000 scholarships to graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in Special Education and/or Speech and Hearing degree programs at GW. • The Scottish Rite Graduate Fellowships in Language Disorders is a $10,000 fellowship offered to a graduate student enrolled in the Speech Language Pathology and/or Audiology programs at GW.

President Steven Knapp and Ron Seale pose with Scottish Rite Scholarship recipients

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Frank Sesno and Larry King share a laugh

“Larry’s generosity has helped so many students follow their dreams and pursue an education. He is a real presence every day, both on the air and at the School of Media and Public Affairs,” said Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs.

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ise Larry King: Media Legend and Scholarship Benefactor Fund Assists 38 Budding Journalists

CNN personality Larry King, longtime friend of The George Washington University, participated in a Public Affairs Project “Conversation Series” interview with School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) Director Frank Sesno on March 4. While he was on campus, Columbian College Dean Peg Barratt and SMPA honored King for endowing a student scholarship fund that has assisted 38 GW students since 2000. Known as the Larry King Scholarship Fund, the awards are given to SMPA undergraduate and graduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds who maintain a high level of academic excellence and demonstrate a passion for learning.

King committed $1 million toward the scholarship fund to, in his words, “give back” to budding journalists. Recipients are nominated by SMPA faculty and four to six awards are given out annually.

Although he never attended college, King has had a long connection to GW. In 1996, he received an honorary degree from GW and in 2007 was inducted into the University’s 1821 Benefactors Society, a recognition society that honors the University’s top philanthropists.

The money has had significant influence for many other students, Sesno said. “Larry’s generosity has helped so many students follow their dreams and pursue an education. He is a real presence every day, both on the air and at the School of Media and Public Affairs.”

CCAS Dean Peg Barratt, Larry King, President Steven Knapp, and SMPA Director Frank Sesno G W I mp a c t

One recipient, senior Elizabeth Richardson, might not have been able to finish her studies without receiving a scholarship from the Larry King fund. “The best thing that happened was that I had peace of mind and could focus. It was so valuable to me to have help and be able to afford my tuition,” she said. “Now I don’t talk about it or worry about it as much.”

Larry King with Peg Barratt, President Steven Knapp, SMPA Director Frank Sesno and current Larry King Scholarship Fund recipients S pr i n g 2 010 9


Power & Promis

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Mary H. Futrell Scholarship Fund: GW Pays Tribute to 15 Years of Service More than 200 friends of The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) attended a benefit tribute in honor of Dean Mary H. Futrell on April 15. After 15 years as dean, she is returning to her roots — the classroom — at George Washington. Distinguished guests such as Congressman Jim Moran and keynote speaker the Honorable Douglas Wilder paid tribute to her during the evening’s program. In his remarks, National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel said, “History is made up of significant events which shape our future

and outstanding leaders who influence our destiny. Mary’s contributions to our history place her in this inimitable position. She started us on the journey to define what great public school for all children/students should truly mean in America.” At the end of the evening’s program, Dean Futrell was presented with a check representing donations to the Mary H. Futrell Scholarship Fund totaling $225,000. The check was presented to her by GW President Steven Knapp and Dawn Brill Duqués, GSEHD BA ’69, incoming chair of the National Council for Education and Human Development at GSEHD.

President Steven Knapp, Mary Futrell, and Dawn Duqués

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GW Law School Receives $1 Million Gift for Scholarship Fund Will Support Student Debt Relief

The George Washington University Law School is establishing the J. Richard Knop Scholarship Fund through a generous $1 million gift by J. Richard Knop, JD ’69, and his wife, Leslee Belluchie. The gift joins more than 70 scholarship endowment funds to provide financial assistance to qualified juris doctor degree candidates each year and underscores the Law School’s commitment to helping students manage education debt. “It is inspiring to see an alumnus like Rick Knop step forward with such a generous gift to our Power & Promise Fund,” said GW President Steven Knapp. Given the economic climate, Knop’s gift comes at a critical time when more and more individuals are looking for financial assistance to attain a degree. J. Richard Knop, JD ‘69, and his wife, Leslee Belluchie 10


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“We are dedicated to ensuring that a GW Law education is accessible to all qualified students,” said Dean Frederick M. Lawrence. “Rick Knop’s generosity of spirit is inspirational, and his contribution helps reduce our graduates’ loan burdens so the cost of education will not limit their ability to make their mark on the world. In this and so many other ways, Rick is a model GW Law alumnus.” Knop is co-founder of the Windsor Group, a middle-market mergers and acquisitions firm purchased by BB&T

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Capital Markets in 2005. He served as BB&T’s senior managing director and co-head of its government/defense group until he founded FedCap partners in 2010, a private equity fund focused in the government contracting industry.

“I could not have accomplished all that I have in my career without my degree from GW Law. I am proud that my work and experience allow me to give back today.”

“My involvement with the Law School and the University has enriched my life and Leslee’s very much,” Mr. Knop said. “Dean Lawrence’s leadership, the quality of the faculty and students, the Law School’s centers of excellence, and its outreach to the alumni community are remarkable.”

Knop has long been an active, supportive alumnus. He is a member of the GW Board of Trustees, the Law School Board of Advisors, and chaired the campaign to establish the Nash-Cibinic Professorship, an endowed fund honoring the creators of the Law School’s government contracts law program.

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Deborah Sarnoff, MD '80, speaks to scholarship donors and recipients

Celebrating Scholarships and Fellowships More than 150 Recipients Personally Thank Their Supporters Three out of five George Washington students receive some sort of financial aid. Some of that assistance comes from more than 400 donor-funded scholarships and fellowships. On the evening of March 25 at The Fairmont Hotel, more than 150 GW students got the chance to thank the donors that helped fund their education this year. “Well over half of our students are only here because of financial aid,” said GW President Steven Knapp. “Your generosity really makes dreams come true.” Deborah Sarnoff, MD ’80, the keynote speaker for the event, said she doesn’t know where she would be today without GW. While in medical school, she met her husband and interned at 12

the National Institutes of Health, conducting clinical research in dermatology, which helped her obtain a residency at New York University’s Skin and Cancer Unit. “It’s not fair to be extremely blessed and not do something about it,” said Sarnoff, who has established a scholarship fund at GW. A board-certified dermatologist, Sarnoff specializes in cosmetic dermatology, laser surgery, and micrographic surgery for the treatment of skin cancer. Zoë Beckerman, JD ’05 and a member of GW’s Board of Trustees, decided to give scholarship money to GW’s School of Public


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“Alumni support is key to the continued success of GW. Something special really does happen here, and only through our donations can we ensure that ‘that special something’ continues to happen over and over and over again for future generations in the years to come,” Deborah Sarnoff, MD ‘80.

Health and Health Services after learning that each year a handful of students have to leave the master’s program because they can no longer afford the tuition. “It’s really important to attract high-caliber students, and the way you do that is being able to fund them,” said Beckerman, who studied in the Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program. ”I view this as a community commitment. We all receive a lot from being affiliated with the University. We make friends there, we learn great things, or we get our dream job. It is really important to think about ensuring that the community stays strong for years to come.” In order to increase the total amount of student aid, the University’s board of trustees infused an additional $10 million

of endowment money into the financial aid budget this year — increasing undergraduate student aid from $123 million to $133 million. Furthermore, GW has set a goal of quadrupling the money it fundraises for need-based scholarships. “Alumni support is key to the continued success of GW,” said Sarnoff. “Something special really does happen here, and only through our donations can we ensure that ‘that special something’ continues to happen over and over and over again for future generations in the years to come.” Visit www.gwu.edu/give/powerandpromise to learn more about supporting GW Students.

GW donors and students enjoying the dinner G W I mp a c t

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Annual and Planned

Giving

A Home-Grown Investment with Countless Returns By Hayden Hill

With more than 50 years of patent law experience, it was no surprise that Jack Sutton, JD ’63, was quick to recognize the benefits of a flip charitable remainder unitrust when it came time to sell his home. Faced with considerable appreciation in the value of their San Francisco residence, Sutton and his wife, Janie, decided to take advantage of this IRS-approved plan that allows individuals to donate a tangible asset to charity and, in return, receive significant tax benefits as well as annual income for life once their home is sold. Sutton’s fond memories of his time at GW Law School, coupled with the University’s strong tradition of public service, prompted the Suttons to deed a portion of their property to GW.

“My experience at GW Law School was a springboard for my professional career. I can think of no better investment than to help today’s students have that same opportunity,” said Jack Sutton, JD ’63. As a night student at GW Law, Sutton took full advantage of the extensive patent and trademark course offerings and was later selected from 50 candidates as the sole clerk for US Court of Customs and Patent Appeals Judge J. Lindsay Almond, Jr. Upon completion of his clerkship, the Suttons moved to San Francisco where Sutton eventually became a partner at Limbach, Limbach and Sutton, and the family moved into what would be their home of 35 years.

Built in 1897 and designed by Edgar Matthews, the house was amply sized for their growing family, and the Suttons took advantage of its space to entertain often. (In fact, each of their three daughters was married there.) But with their children grown and retirement beckoning in Grass Valley, California, the Suttons were ready to downsize in 2009. Before listing the house, the Suttons created a “net income” charitable remainder unitrust and funded it with a 10 percent interest in the property. They received a substantial charitable tax deduction and avoided capital gains taxes on the donated portion of the property. The home’s later sale was the triggering event that “flipped” the trust from being a net income unitrust to being a standard unitrust. Now, after the sale, they receive a fixed percentage of the trust’s earnings, 5 percent annually in this instance, over both their lifetimes. When the trust terminates, the University receives the principal and the Suttons’ estate will benefit from reduced estate taxes and costs. Sutton notes the good fortune they enjoyed, living in the house and benefiting from its substantial increase in value. Yes, it was a wise investment, but they also consider it “found money,” which they are happy to share. As Sutton noted, “Investing in students may produce an even more successful return to society than the 1974 real estate investment returned to the Suttons.”

Jane and Jack Sutton, JD ‘63 14

If you would like to learn more about real estate giving opportunities, visit www.gwu.edu/ give/realestate or contact Chase Magnuson at chasem@gwu.edu or 202-994-4979.


President Steven Knapp, Nelson Carbonell, W. Russell Ramsey and Kelley Stokes at the Kogan Plaza celebration

2010 Senior Class Day Celebration Seniors Toasted for the Largest Senior Class Gift in GW History

At a May 13 celebration on Kogan Plaza, surrounded by hundreds of members of the class of 2010, Senior Class Gift Campaign Coordinator Kelley Stokes presented Board of Trustees Chairman W. Russell Ramsey, GWSB BBA ‘81, Vice Chairman Nelson Carbonell, SEAS BS ‘85, and President Steven Knapp with the 2010 Senior Class Gift of $74,838. The dollars raised by the class surpass the amounts raised in the previous three years of the Senior Class Gift campaigns.

Stokes said, “I am incredibly proud of the impact on GW our class has made this year through the Senior Class Gift Campaign. I hope that it will serve as an example for future classes on how much even small donations can add up to big results. It’s been inspiring for me to see how receptive seniors are to giving back to the parts of the University that have impacted them. It’s a great beginning to our lifelong careers as GW alumni, and I hope that everyone in the class continues to give and be engaged with GW in the future.”

A record 36.7 percent of the class participated by giving to the school, program, organization, or other part of the University that meant the most to them. The total included the Luther Rice Advisory Council matching gift and others from parents and friends.

As the gift campaign coordinator, Stokes led a group of 40 dedicated seniors, who hosted special events and reached out via social media groups to educate the class about the importance of giving to GW.

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Annual and Planned

Giving

Members of the GW Alumni Association Board of Directors at their spring 2010 meeting in Washington, DC. Collectively, the GWAA Board has given more than $265,000 to GW this fiscal year.

Strength in Numbers Contributions by GW Alumni Association Board of Directors Collectively Make a Big Difference by Matthew Lindsay As Kristen Betts, GSEHD EdD ’98, opened her tenure as GW Alumni Association president in 2004, she was struck by two things. First, the passion and commitment of the Colonials representing alumni on the GWAA Board of Directors. Second, that this commitment did not always translate to financial support. During 2004-2005, Betts and several of her colleagues on the GWAA Board conducted a comparative study of alumni and board engagement at GW and eight peer institutions. They wanted to know how a board could best represent alumni and how to re-energize the GWAA Board. “It provided us with information to say, first of all, that we were doing a lot of good things, but secondly, to ask ourselves, ‘How do you go from good to great?’” Betts said. “When you are involved 16

in this type of process it’s infectious, you want to do more.” Betts also set out to make philanthropy a hallmark of GWAA Board membership. With the comparative study in her back pocket and with the help of a GW Board of Trustees giving participation challenge, she was able to achieve 100 percent giving among the 52-member GWAA Board during her term as president. Betts notes that, “It wasn’t the amount of the gift, it was about participation. The goal was to establish the idea of giving on a consistent basis.” Fast forward to 2010. Current GW Alumni Association President Laura Taddeucci Downs, CCAS BA ’92, GSEHD MA ’95, credits Betts with laying the groundwork to make philanthropy a key element of GWAA Board membership.


As of April 30, 2010, 70 percent of the GWAA Board members have made financial contributions to their alma mater, slightly ahead of the fiscal year 2009 rate. Even more significant, two-thirds of the board member contributions are at the Luther Rice Society level ($1,000 or more annually), with total giving topping $265,000. This figure surpasses the $212,000 given by the GWAA Board in GW’s fiscal year 2009, which itself was a significant increase over the previous year. In addition to the personal contributions of board members, the GW Alumni Association has committed $50,000 over five years — an annual scholarship gift of $10,000 — to the Power & Promise student aid fund. This scholarship gift is funded in part through revenue from programs like the Bank of America affinity banking/credit card and Marsh life, health, and travel insurance. “The GWAA Board wants to lead by example, giving back to the University to make education more affordable for students,” said Downs. Downs, who donates to the GW swim team and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, recognizes that there are many different affinities alumni have to GW. “I know many alumni who give to the Power & Promise Fund because they received scholarships to attend GW,” Downs said. “But student financial assistance doesn’t resonate with everyone. The two most important things are that people know they can contribute to whatever part of GW they feel passionately about and that donors feel like they are making a difference — whether they give to their athletic team, a fraternity or sorority, or a student organization.”

Roth IRA Conversion Now Available A charitable gift to GW can help reduce taxes. Beginning this year, the IRS is allowing people to convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, regardless of income level. There is a price to pay for this ability — namely, taxes on the amount that is transferred from a tax-deferred account into a post-tax account. A charitable gift of cash or securities to GW can create a charitable income tax deduction that will reduce your taxes due.

To learn how to take advantage of this opportunity, contact GW’s Planned Giving office at (877) 498-7590 or pgiving1@gwu.edu.

GW Alumni Association Board Giving Fiscal Year 2008 through Fiscal Year 2010 (as of April 30) $300,000

$267,556

Board Giving

$250,000

$212,000

$200,000 $157,331

$150,000 $100,000 $50,000 FY08

FY09

FY10 YTD

Fiscal Year

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Annual and Planned

Giving

Left to Right: Richard Goldstein, Diana Henriques, Ike Sorkin, President Steven Knapp, Abby Joseph Cohen, James Runde, Darryl Steinberg, and Jeffrey Silverman

Wall Street Symposium Showcases Luther Rice Financial Services Alliance Alumni Invest Their Time to Bring Students and Mentors Together Richard Goldstein, BA ’81, managing director at Havens Advisors, and Jeffrey Silverman, BA ’84, a managing director at Tudor Investment Corp., are giving back in a special way to the University by co-chairing the Luther Rice Society’s Financial Services Alliance (FSA) Board of Directors. The board is composed of GW alumni in leadership positions across the financial services industry. Through their efforts, Goldstein and Silverman have helped engage more than 500 alumni and increased mentorship and job opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Two years ago, GW didn’t have the alliance, and many of the 4,000 alumni working in the industry had no way to connect with their peers. Goldstein and Silverman gave vision to the FSA. Simply put, they wanted to elevate the profile of GW in the financial services community and support the advancement of GW’s student experience. To do this, they helped create a board of 25 alumni, reached out to their peers, and helped assemble a 18

calendar of events to make it easy for alumni to reconnect with their alma mater. Their work culminated in March 2010 when they assembled 200 of GW’s top alumni in the financial sector at the Annual Wall Street Symposium. The event, held at the historic JP Morgan Library & Museum, hosted a stellar alumni panel including Abby Joseph Cohen, MA ’76, president of the Global Markets Institute and senior investment strategist at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.; James Runde, MS ’73, special advisor and former vice chairman of Morgan Stanley; Ira (“Ike”) Sorkin, JD ’68, attorney and Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement expert; and Darryl R. Steinberg, JD ’89, managing director and senior tax counsel at Lehman Brothers. The panel was moderated by Diana B. Henriques, BA ’69, senior financial writer for The New York Times and chair of the International Advisory Council of The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs.


Annual Giving Soars Ahead as of May 17, 2010

• GW Annual Giving is 15 percent ahead in cash and 6 percent ahead in donors as compared with FY09 year-to-date. • Those who know the University best are giving in increased numbers: parents (increase of 19 percent in dollars, 48 percent in donors); faculty and staff where dollars are on par with last year, but the number of donors has increased significantly (42 percent more than YTD FY09). • Dollars received online are ahead by 48 percent when compared to this same time last year. • GW Power & Promise (student aid) designation is ahead 40 percent in dollars and 59 percent in gifts. • Annual gifts to Power & Promise have already surpassed last year’s results. GW has secured more than $1 million in gifts, passing last year’s total of $900,000, with over a month left to go.

“Today, GW alumni are in leadership positions and can help change the lives of students through their philanthropy, their mentorship, and their volunteerism. For GW to advance, the University needs alumni support and involvement,” said Jeffrey Silverman, BA ’84. The 200 alumni in attendance heard firsthand details about the current economic crisis from the panelists, who were — and continue to be — in the trenches of Wall Street. The panelists also offered insights on the direction of the country and its financial industries, as well as possible routes to recovery. “We intend to lay the groundwork for a dynamic, strong, and prominent alumni group here in the New York metropolitan area to benefit the University, the alumni, and the students for years to come,” Goldstein said. Their work has not been easy. Goldstein and Silverman, along with many members of the FSA board, have hosted quarterly board meetings and events and have e-mailed or called hundreds of GW alumni, many of whom had not been connected with GW for decades.

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“When I graduated from GW, I had to find a job on my own. The University did not have an established base of alumni to assist students with career advice or jobs,” Silverman said. “Today, GW alumni are in leadership positions and can help change the lives of students through their philanthropy, their mentorship, and their volunteerism. For GW to advance, the University needs alumni support and involvement.” The work of the FSA Board of Directors continues. They are already busy planning the 2011 Wall Street Symposium, developing new mentorship opportunities for alumni to connect with students, and helping GW continue to build its philanthropic base of alumni. To learn more about the FSA, visit www.lutherrice.gwu.edu.

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The Student

Experience

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attend a GW basketball game at the Charles E. Smith Center

Almost There! The Charles E. Smith Center Enters Final Stage of Transformation The Smith and Kogod Families’ Vision Becomes a Reality The Charles E. Smith Center, the heart of the GW student experience, enters the third and final phase of a transformation that will bring a new sense of excitement and vibrancy to the Foggy Bottom campus. The center of student life, GW students begin their college career at the Charles E. Smith Center with Freshman Convocation; return to cheer their Colonial athletic teams, see entertainment headliners and participate in University ceremonies; and many will 20

receive their degrees at their college ceremonies in the arena. The transformation of the Charles E. Smith Center realizes the vision of the Robert H. Smith Family Foundation, the Charles E. Smith Family Foundation, and Robert P. and Arlene R. Kogod. Their $10 million challenge gift, which provided the seed funds for the project, was committed in February 2008 and is one of the largest philanthropic gifts in GW’s history.

Phase I & II: The Home Court Advantage With no interruption in the schedule of student activities, sporting events, and University ceremonies, the interior of the Charles E. Smith Center has been transformed into an exciting venue offering the finest amenities for GW athletes and fans. Visitors to the “Tex” Silverman Court now find themselves in much greater comfort sitting in the chair-backed seats that replaced the


» www.gwu.edu/give/charlesesmithcenterinitiative old-style bleachers. VIP audiences are treated to the exquisitely appointed Colonials Club with the best seats in the house. Each of the 14 men’s and women’s sports teams now has its own locker room, and student athletes can take advantage of wireless Internet, new computers, and study spaces throughout the building’s academic center. Training takes place in a fitness center and varsity weight room that boasts the latest equipment, and their health is monitored in an upgraded sports medicine suite. Fans of the swimming and water polo teams watch their Colonials in the updated natatorium.

Phase III: Enhancing the Experience The final phase of the transformation will turn the exterior of the Charles E. Smith Center into a vibrant centerpiece for the University and the Foggy Bottom community. Set for completion in late 2010 or early 2011, the exterior will be a dynamic entrance with landscaping that is both welcoming and energizing. The transformation to the lobby, box office, and concessions concourse will offer fans a contemporary entrance to the Charles E. Smith Center experience. The legacy of the Colonials will be honored with new trophy and award displays as well as the GW Athletics Hall of Fame. As it was during Phase I and II work, all the exciting activities scheduled for the Charles E. Smith Center will continue during the final phase of the project. For information on how you can make a gift and be a part of the transformation, contact Matthew Banks at mbanks@ gwu.edu or 202-994-5125. G W I mp a c t

Student Aid Helps Squash the Competition GW Becomes First School in the US to Offer Squash Scholarships It’s a lot like tennis. The ball is softer and the racquets longer, but the increasingly popular sport of squash is every bit as intense as its well-known sister sport. Just ask the student athletes of GW’s squash teams.

“Providing an endowment for the men’s and women’s squash teams ensures that the program has a bright future,” Jeffrey Grossman said. “Students who attend GW after our son has graduated will now be able to continue the team’s legacy.”

Since the sport officially came to George Washington in 2002, both the men’s and women’s teams have been climbing the national rankings and earning a reputation as fierce competitors. Players practice up to six days a week and face off against some of the toughest opponents in the country. But GW squash has one key advantage over its competitors: scholarships.

Contributions like the Grossmans’ help students take full advantage of everything GW has to offer, all while reducing loan burdens and enhancing GW’s schools and programs.

In 2009, GW became the first school in the country to offer athletic scholarships to its squash players, removing a financial burden from athletes and allowing them to focus on their studies and their commitment to the team. The scholarships were administered under the umbrella of the GW Power & Promise Fund, the University’s student aid initiative.

“GW squash has made tremendous progress since 2002,” Lawrence said. “The new scholarships are a great testament to the hard work of our athletes and the strength of this program.” Visit www.gwu.edu/give to learn more about supporting GW athletics.

“It’s a real benefit to us,” said Wendy Lawrence, coach of the men’s squash team. “GW’s squash program is continually creeping up in the rankings and we’re aiming to compete closely against the Ivy League teams in a few years. These scholarships help us do that.” The squash program is able to provide the scholarships thanks in large part to a $100,000 gift from Jeffrey and Pamela Grossman, whose son, Matt, is a member of the men’s team.

Jose Calderon, SEAS ’12, GW men’s squash co-captain S pr i n g 2 010

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Inspired by

Example Opportunity Inspires Alumnus to Pay It Forward By Gray Turner For a 17-year-old freshman from upstate New York, The George Washington University presented opportunities that were hard to find elsewhere, but with his ability to pay tuition in question, Jeremy Gosbee, CCAS BA ’98, GWSB MBA ’02, almost never got the chance to experience them. Drawn to the University by its political science program and presence in Washington, DC, Gosbee credits the scholarships he received as an undergraduate for his being able to attend GW.

Jeremy Gosbee, CCAS BA ’98, GWSB MBA ’02, and the first Jeremy K. Gosbee Scholarship recipient, Victoria Wright, CCAS ’13, at GW’s Scholarships and Fellowships Dinner on March 25, 2010

“I was fortunate to come to GW on both merit- and needbased scholarships,” said Gosbee, who currently serves on the Executive Board of the GW Alumni Association (GWAA). “I would not have been able to go to GW or even stay as a student without the support I received.”

Diana Henriques ʹ69 - Back to the Future Diana Henriques, BA ’69, member of the GW Board of Trustees and chair of the International Council at the Elliott School of International Affairs, came to The George Washington University in 1966 to pursue her interest in journalism. Born in Bryant, Texas, Henriques grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, in a working-class family where a college education was not a sure thing. It was only with the help of the General Motors Scholarship, awarded to her by the University, that she was able to come here at all. “Without the scholarship, I never could have afforded to work at The Hatchet, where I had a chance to develop my skills as an unpaid journalist — my spare time would have been spent working at a job to help pay for my education.” 22

Henriques found herself at GW during a particularly vibrant period in history for GW and the nation. The School of Public and International Affairs (which evolved into the Elliott School of International Affairs) had just come into being; the GW Colonials were playing their final football season; and student demonstrations at college campuses across the country were prompting administrators to close their doors. Henriques knew her future could be in doubt if GW had to shut down. “It was never dull,” she recalls. “Here we were at ground zero in Washington, DC, but I never missed a class, and the campus never closed down. It is a tribute to Lloyd Elliott and the rapport he had with the students. It pleased me to no end that they named

the school I loved after the university president I loved.” She knew she wanted to be a journalist and at GW she found “the perfect approach to a journalism career. I learned to look at any topic with a 360-degree view. The intellectual training enriched my reporting and my career, and taught me to look at conventional things with an unconventional eye.” That career included working at several newspapers in the Northeast until arriving at the New York Times in 1989, where today she is an acclaimed investigative reporter specializing in financial fraud, whitecollar crime, and corporate governance issues. She has received several awards for


After graduating with a degree in political science, Gosbee worked at GW as the director of special alumni programs and communications for three years while pursuing graduate studies in the GW School of Business, earning his MBA in 2002. The combination of the experiences during his undergraduate and graduate studies left him feeling grateful to the University for all of its support.

find back home. I wanted to give future students a chance like the one I had.”

Those feelings would lead Gosbee to establish the Jeremy K. Gosbee Scholarship Fund in 2009. Created by a $5,000 gift, the need-based scholarship is given to an undergraduate student from his hometown-area of upstate New York. He hopes the scholarship will provide a student with the opportunity to take advantage of all GW has to offer.

As a member of the GWAA Executive Board, Gosbee has seen the University grow in many ways. He credits the dedication of alumni for the progress GW has made in recent years.“The University does a great job allowing alumni to direct support the way they want, whether it’s to a specific school or program, or to create or support a scholarship they can identify with,” Gosbee says. “There are a lot of great GW initiatives worth supporting, but one thing I’ve realized is that student aid will always be important.”

“There are a lot of amazing experiences in Washington, DC, that you can’t find in upstate New York,” he says. “A school like GW offers the kind of unique opportunities you can’t

journalism and is the author of a number of books including The Machinery of Greed (1986), Fidelity’s World (1995), and The White Sharks of Wall Street (2000). Today, as chair of the International Council at the Elliott School, Henriques sees echoes of the ’60s in the recent presidential election, the controversial wars, and the increased involvement of students in civic discourse.

That public engagement, she believes, is a hallmark of GW students. “I’ve been to a lot of universities and I’ve never found the same passion for public engagement that I find in GW students. They aren’t looking for a safe path, a career cocoon – whatever career they choose they will be involved and engaged with the world around them.” G W I mp a c t

This scholarship gift is a part of the University’s recently launched scholarship initiative, The George Washington Power & Promise Fund. The fund will ensure that qualified students, regardless of their financial resources, can take full advantage of a GW education.

Visit www.gwu.edu/~elliott to learn more about how you can help open

the doors of opportunity to future GW students.

As a longtime donor of both dollars and expertise to the University, Henriques notes, “I don’t know if I can ever give back what GW invested in me. I could never have had the life I’ve had without my time at this university. I believe you have an obligation to the past to help those in the future. Somebody set up the scholarship that brought me to George Washington. I need to be that somebody for someone coming after me.” Visit www.gwu.edu/give/powerandpromise

to learn more about how you can help open the doors of opportunity to future GW students.

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GW

News

School of Media and Public Affairs Director Frank Sesno leads a panel discussion at the GW Global Forum in Hong Kong.

GW Global Forum

The United States and Asia in a Time of Change

George Washington’s inaugural Global Forum — which brought together nearly 200 faculty, alumni, friends, and experts from Asia and the United States — was held in Hong Kong, on Nov. 13-14, 2009. Asia is a significant region for George Washington. More than 1,000 students from the region currently attend GW, and more than 3,000 alumni are concentrated in Asia — almost 50 percent of the University’s international alumni. “The world is watching, and for GW to stake an interest in Asia at this time is critically important,” said Zeb Eckert, BA ’03, a Hong Kong-based reporter for Bloomberg Television.

24

During the forum, participants heard from distinguished guests and panelists, including keynote speakers — the Honorable Susan C. Schwab, PhD ’93, American educator and former US trade representative; and Admiral William A. Owens, MS ’76, chairman and CEO of AEA Investors Asia — on the issues of USAsia trade relations and trade politics and peace and security in Asia, respectively. President Steven Knapp delivered a State of the University address to participants gathered to exchange ideas about the international political, business, economic, and security issues of the day. “Our aspiration now is to match the power of our teaching with the power of our research. As a matter of fact, our investment in our research is also an investment in


“The world is watching, and for GW to stake an interest in Asia at this time is critically important,” said Zeb Eckert, BA ’03, a Hong Kong-based reporter for Bloomberg Television.

our teaching,” Knapp said. “There is no more exciting way to learn than to work with a professor who is pushing the frontier of knowledge, whether the field is neuroscience, literature, environmental engineering, or international law. So without in any way lessening our commitment to the classroom, we are building our stature as a university that contributes to the solution of national and global problems.”

The University has academic partnerships with prestigious universities across the world, including Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Fudan University in Shanghai, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University, Korea University, and Sogang University. Additionally, GW’s Study Abroad program is ranked 11th in size among the more than 3,000 institutions of higher education in the United States.

“People take these conversations back, they build relationships, they learn something, they make new friends, and they foster a deeper connection to the University,” Eckert said. “I think it’s GW’s real strength — the fact that the University has such a strong international presence and so many international students, and is willing to come to Hong Kong from Washington, DC, to have this type of forum. It says a lot about GW.”

The inaugural GW Global Forum was sponsored by FedEx. Official media partners of the forum were TIME and Bloomberg, and supporting organizations included the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Visit alumni.gwu.edu/globalforum to view photos or video of the event and to learn about the 2010 Global Forum in New York, Oct. 28-29.

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GW

News

Introducing Michael J. Morsberger GW Announces New Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

President Steven Knapp announced on Feb. 17 the selection of Michael J. Morsberger as the University’s vice president for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations. “Mike Morsberger brings to this position a breadth of experience from top-tier institutions,” Knapp said. “I look forward to working with him to raise the resources George Washington needs to achieve our aspirations.” Morsberger most recently served as vice president for Duke Medicine Development and Alumni Affairs and has more than 23 years of leadership experience in the industry. While at Duke Medicine, Morsberger led fundraising and alumni relations activities for Duke University Health System and the academic and research efforts associated with the medical and nursing schools. Previously, he served as associate vice president of development

and executive director at the University of Virginia, where he was instrumental in planning the health system’s $500 million campaign and served as a senior member of the university’s development team in launching a $3 billion campaign, the largest fundraising endeavor at a public university in the United States. Prior to his work at the University of Virginia, he spent nine years at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, where he oversaw advancement for the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. Morsberger was involved in the largest single gift in Johns Hopkins’ history, when philanthropist Sidney Kimmel committed $150 million to name the center in 2001. “I am honored to be joining George Washington University at this very pivotal time,” Morsberger said. “Over

the next few months I will be meeting with trustees, University faculty and staff, and donors to learn more about GW’s aspirations as we strengthen our culture of philanthropy and look forward to a campaign. Meaningful alumni engagement and true philanthropic partnership will be hallmarks of the program we are building here at GW.” Morsberger holds a bachelor’s in journalism from Radford University and a master’s in philanthropy and development from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. In addition to his work at the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins, he has worked in development at Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital Foundation, Calvert Hall College Preparatory School, and the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

“I am honored to be joining George Washington University at this very pivotal time... Meaningful alumni engagement and true philanthropic partnership will be hallmarks of the program we are building here at GW.”

Michael J. Morsberger 26


First Lady Michelle Obama at Commencement

A Capital Commencement With the United States Capitol in the background, more than 25,000 graduates, friends, and family members gathered on the National Mall for the University’s 2010 Commencement. First Lady Michelle Obama gave the keynote address, fulfilling her promise to speak if the GW community completed 100,000 hours of service. President Knapp noted that GW had in fact logged 163,980 service hours, far exceeding the original challenge. In her speech, Obama urged graduates to stay engaged in their communities and the world, calling the class of 2010 “extraordinary,” and thanking them for their “incredible contributions.” Obama issued a final challenge: “Keep going. Keep giving. Keep engaging,” she said. “From what I’ve seen from your class, I have no doubt that you will.” Honorary degrees were awarded to Obama; Dave Brubeck, renowned jazz pianist and composer; and A. James Clark, chairman and CEO of Clark Enterprises Inc. Visit commencement.gwu.edu to view more photos from Commencement Weekend 2010. G W I mp a c t

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In

Memoriam Robert H. Smith

GW trustee emeritus Robert H. Smith died Dec. 29, 2009, at age 81. Smith was a visionary in real estate development and philanthropy who transformed universities, historical sites, museums, and countless other institutions around the world. With brother-in-law, Robert P. Kogod, Smith ran the Charles E. Smith Companies for more than 40 years, becoming Washington, DC’s largest commercial real estate company. The company was known especially for developing the Crystal City complex in Arlington, Virginia. Smith exemplified philanthropic leadership at GW. His most recent gift, a $10 million challenge grant from the Robert H. Smith Family Foundation, Charles E. Smith Family Foundation, and Robert P. and Arlene R. Kogod, continues to be instrumental in the renovation and transformation of the Charles E. Smith Center and is one of the largest donations in the University’s history. The Charles E.

Jeanette Michael Jeanette A. Michael, LAW ’75, GW trustee and former executive director of the DC Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board, died on Nov. 28, 2009. Michael served as the DC Lottery’s first general counsel, deputy director of the DC Department of Human Services, a supervisory attorney in the office of Corporation Counsel, and chief of staff for former DC Mayor Marion Barry. In 2001, Michael became deputy director of operations for the DC Lottery and was appointed executive director shortly thereafter.

Abe Pollin GW alumnus and Wizards owner, Abe Pollin, BBA ‘45, is remembered as a “dedicated Washingtonian.” Pollin died Nov. 24, 2009. Pollin was the owner of the Washington Wizards and chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and majority shareholder of Washington Sports and Entertainment. Pollin 28

Smith Center, named for Smith’s father, was dedicated in 1976. Smith and his wife, Clarice, BA ’76, MFA ’79, also provided support to the University of Maryland; Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens; Monticello; Montpelier; Gettysburg National Military Park; Mayo Clinic; Wilmer Eye Clinic at Johns Hopkins; the Newseum; New York Historical Society; Hebrew University; Victoria and Albert Museum; and others. Avid art collectors, the Smiths donated a number of significant paintings and have promised their world-renowned collection of Renaissance bronze sculptures to the National Gallery of Art. Smith was the former president of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Art, former chairman of the board of governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and served on the GW Board of Trustees for 20 years. In 2008, President George W. Bush awarded Smith the National Humanities Medal. Smith is survived by his wife; two children, Michelle Smith of Washington, DC, and David Bruce Smith, BA ’79, of Bethesda; a sister, Arlene R. Kogod of Washington, DC; and four grandchildren.

A passionate advocate for the advancement of African American members of the legal community, Michael served as founder and first president of GW’s Black Law Alumni Association. She was also active in promoting breast cancer awareness. In 2009, GW recognized Michael with the Spirit of Life Award at its annual Cancer Gala. She also received an Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University in 1997. In recognition of her commitment to the GW Law community, GW’s Law School has established a scholarship in Michael’s name. For questions about this fund and methods of giving, please contact Richard Collins, associate vice president for Development, The George Washington University Law School, at 202-994-6117.

was elected as a member of the GW Board of Trustees in 1974 and served for 20 years. He was honored with the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1974 and inducted into the GW School of Business Sports Executive Hall of Fame earlier this year. “All of us at The George Washington University mourn the loss of trustee emeritus and distinguished alumnus Abe Pollin,” GW President Steven Knapp said. “He was a dedicated Washingtonian who transformed his beloved community. We at GW are proud of his accomplishments, and he will be greatly missed.”


Turn Doyour YouDeed Own Property? Yes, I'm Interested.

If you want to make a lasting legacy at The George Washington GW accepts gifts of Please send me more information University consider a gift of real estate. Your donation all Medical types ofCenter, real estate. about gifts of Real Estate can support needed student For information on scholarships, advance powerful research I am interested in giving a gift of how canvaluable turn funding for community initiatives, or you provide or education Real Estate your property into a programs. What’s more, by donating real estate to GW, you can Approximate Value: _____________ lasting legacy at GW, achievelook peaceon ofthe mind and receive significant financial benefits for opposite yourselfside or someone else. and of this page

JU ST

GI FT ED

Name: _____________________

return the coupon ___________________________ onmany the right. There are options for donating your home, second home, Address: ___________________ commercial building, raw land, or other real estate to GW. Depending ___________________________ on the nature of your gift and your objectives, you could: ___________________________

Phone:_____________________ • Avoid capital gains taxes on appreciated property E-Mail: _____________________ • Eliminate the burden of maintaining and paying for the property For more information, please contact: • Provide yourself with an annual income Chase Magnuson Clip & Mail to: • Continue to use the property for the remainder of your life The George Washington University Director of Planned Giving for Real Estate Office of Planned Giving – Real Estate • Reduce your estate and income taxes 202-994-4979 or chasem@gwu.edu

Turning Their Deed Into a Good Deed

or visit www.gwu.edu/give/realestate Donors: Hedda and Xavier Brock, AA ‘48

2100 M Street, NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20037

For more information, please contact:

Gift: The Brocks donated their

Real Estate Ad SOB.indd 1

5/14/10 1:43 PM

home of more than 50 years to GW through a Retained Life Estate.

Benefits: The Brocks received a

GI FT ED

charitable tax deduction for a large portion of their home’s value, avoided capital gains tax on the appreciation, and the property is excluded from their taxable estate - all while they continue to live in their home as long as they’d like.

JU ST

Why GW: “Xavier received a wonderful education at GW. We have been giving to the University for years and we trust that GW can handle this gift and put it to great use.” - Hedda Brock House not actual gift

Chase Magnuson, Director of Planned Giving for Real Estate (202) 994-4979 or chasem@gwu.edu or visit www.gwu.edu/give/realestate G W I mp a c t

The George Washington University Office of Planned Giving – Real Estate 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20037 S pr i n g 2 010 2 9


NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE MERRIFIELD, VA PERMIT NO. 2657 The George Washington University The Division of Development and Alumni Relations 2100 M Street NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20052

GW accepts gifts of all types of real estate. For information on how you can turn your property into a lasting legacy at GW, look on the opposite side of this page and return the coupon on the right.

JU ST

GI FT ED

Do You Own Property? Yes, I'm Interested. Please send me more information about gifts of Real Estate I am interested in giving a gift of Real Estate Approximate Value: _____________

Name: _____________________ ___________________________ Address: ___________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ Phone:_____________________

For more information, please contact: Chase Magnuson Director of Planned Giving for Real Estate 202-994-4979 or chasem@gwu.edu or visit www.gwu.edu/give/realestate

E-Mail: _____________________ Clip & Mail to: The George Washington University Office of Planned Giving – Real Estate 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20037


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