GW Impact- Winter 2010

Winter 2010

Report on Philanthropy

Face to Face: Dan Simons, GWSB BBA ’92 and Lily Belter, GWSB BBA ’12, page 14 »

Report on Philanthropy

Table of Contents Knowledge In Action Corporate Gift Enhances Simulation Lab at New GW School of Nursing $1 Million Gift to Foster US-Korean Educational Bonds, Create Study Abroad Opportunities for GW Engineering Students

GW Power & Promise Inspired by Father’s Story, New GW Parents Endow Scholarship in Columbian College

2

Editor: David L. Garofalo Assistant Editor: Gray Turner

The Student Experience With Phase III Nearly Complete, Students, Athletes, and Community Enjoy the Transformed Charles E. Smith Center Transforming a Center for Colonials

5

GW News

16

Assistant Vice President of Development Communications: Patricia Danver

18

GW Board of Trustees Approves Science and Engineering Complex

Photographers: Jessica McConnell Burt William Atkins Dawn Miskell Julie Woodford Dave Scavone GW Impact is published by the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, The George Washington University, 2100 M Street, NW Suite 310, Washington, DC 20037.

$2 Million Contribution from Teamsters Establishes Labor History Research Center at Gelman Library

Please send change-of-address notices to us online at www.gwu.edu/~alumni/update/, via email to alumrecs@gwu.edu, or by post to Alumni Records, 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20037.

GW Hosts Second Annual Women & Philanthropy Forum

Andrew K. Friedman Memorial Scholarship Inspired Young Grad’s Passion for Philanthropy

Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations: Michael J. Morsberger Associate Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations: Karen L. Greene

Second Annual GW Global Forum

Hazan Gift to SMHS Designated to Foster Culture of Compassion and Philanthropy in Future Physicians

President of the University: Steven Knapp

Oman 2010: 40 Years—Building the Future

Foresight Key in Million Dollar Gift

GW Honors Distinguished Alumni

Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the university.

Alumnus Endows New Scholarship for Students of Trial Advocacy

Barenaked Ladies Rocks Alumni Weekend 2010

The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Alumna Empowers Women Athletes through $100K Scholarship

Passion for Changing the World

Smart Investment Play Ball!

Living up to the Cha11enge Alumnus Tom Curtis: Giving Back, Looking Forward Face to Face: Remembering the Past to Benefit the Future

A Gift of the Soul

11

25

GW Graphic Design G41158

Adm. Thad Allen (Ret.), MPA ’86, Receives Second Annual Colin Powell Public Service Award Correction In the Spring 2010 issue, Elliott School of International Affairs Dean Michael Brown was misidentified in a photo caption as School of Media and Public Affairs Director Frank Sesno in an article discussing the GW Hong Kong Global Forum. We apologize for the error.

Knowledge

2

In Action

“By providing our students with the highest quality education and cutting-edge technology for learning, we know that our graduates will be prepared to take on the challenges that nurses face in the field.”

–Jean Johnson Dean of the School of Nursing

Gift from Reston Hospital Center and HCA Virginia Health System Enhances Simulation Lab at New GW School of Nursing New Technology Provides Reality Check for Students Students at the newly created George Washington University School of Nursing will be better prepared for a real hospital setting thanks to a $23,000 gift from Reston Hospital Center and the Hospital Corporation of America Virginia Health System. The new equipment enhances the authenticity of the lab experience, allowing students to become comfortable in that environment and gain practical experience before starting their clinical rotations.

“This generous gift from HCA Virginia and Reston Hospital Center will expand the hands-on learning opportunities we offer nursing students,” GW President Steven Knapp said at an event showcasing the simulation lab. “Such opportunities will enhance GW’s ability to contribute to the education of future healthcare providers in Virginia.”

A large component of students’ curriculum in the School of Nursing, which opened its doors in July, is working in the skills

G W I mp a c t

and simulation lab at the GW Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, Va. In the lab students experience realworld situations in a controlled environment, while faculty members oversee, evaluate, and provide feedback.

Inside the simulation lab, students are assigned several mannequins that respond like live patients. Not only do the mannequins blink and have a pulse, they can also bleed, perspire, and speak 20 languages. The mannequins display different health problems that students are required to treat.

“As a newly established school of nursing, we are truly grateful for HCA Virginia’s support for our programs,” said Jean Johnson, dean of the School of Nursing. “By providing our students with the highest quality education and cuttingedge technology for learning, we know that our graduates will be prepared to take on the challenges that nurses face in the field.”

W i nt e r 2 010

3

Knowledge

In Action

Simon S. Lee, MS ’05, Anna H. Lee, President Steven Knapp, and Ki-Su Lee, president of Korea University

$1 Million Gift to Foster US-Korean Educational Bonds, Create Study Abroad Opportunities for GW Engineering Students Thanks to the generosity of Simon S. Lee, MS ’05, and his wife Anna H. Lee, undergraduate engineering students at GW will have the opportunity to study alongside Korean students and professors and extend their learning across the world. The Lees recently made a $1 million gift to the School of Engineering and Applied Science to fund a student exchange program with GW and Korea University in Seoul. This gift will create the Simon and Anna Lee Korea University Endowment, which will provide assistance for GW engineering students who wish to study abroad at Korea University as a part of the Korea University Partnership.

David Dolling, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, said that gaining international experience is key to the success of engineering students. “In a world where technological challenges demand interdisciplinary approaches, and solutions hinge on a complex balance of technology, economics, policy, and politics, our graduates must be able to understand and embrace complexity. They must be able to lead teams that may be spread across the globe, cutting across cultures, time zones, and many disciplines. Studying abroad helps lay the foundation for the development of this expertise.”

“This endowment is not just about charity, it is not just about money,” Simon Lee said. “It is about building a bridge that links two outstanding educational institutions and brings students from two countries and cultures closer together. This is about building an educational partnership between the two countries I love.”

“When I give to GW I believe I am investing in the future.”

Simon Lee received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Korea University before immigrating to the United States in 1979 with his wife, Anna. He enrolled at GW in 1979, but was forced to put his education on hold because of financial pressures. He was finally able to finish the dream he had begun 25 years earlier, earning a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from GW in 2005. Three of his children also received degrees from GW—Julie Lee, MS ’05; Philip Lee, MS ’05; and Michelle Lee, BBA ’05, MS ’08.

4

–Simon S. Lee Simon Lee believes that the education he and his children received at GW is invaluable, and that enabling future SEAS students to share the educational experience that he was afforded is just a small way to give back to the university for all it has done for his family. “The education I received at Korea University helped shape me and provided the foundation for who I would become, and my education at GW served to fortify that foundation and expand upon an already solid base.

For me, education is one of life’s most important priorities and a cornerstone of society. When I give to GW I believe I am investing in the future.”

Power & Promise

GW

Inspired by Father’s Story, New GW Parents Endow Scholarship in Columbian College Shantilal P. Patel Scholarship Will Help Students Achieve Their Dreams Shantilal Patel

Kalpesh and Shefali Patel became new members of the George Washington community this fall when their son enrolled at GW, but it didn’t take long for them to reach out to help support their new extended family.

Wanting other bright, capable students to have the same opportunities as their son, the Patels made a $100,000 gift in support of the GW Power & Promise Fund for student aid to endow the Shantilal P. Patel Scholarship.

The Patels chose to name the scholarship after Kalpesh’s father, Shantilal P. Patel, who was not able to pursue his educational aspirations as a young man due to financial limitations. “We dedicated this gift to him

GW parents Shefali and Kalpesh Patel G W I mp a c t

“We both really believe that the best gift one can give to a child is an education.”

–Shefali and Kalpesh Patel because we feel a scholarship can truly change the course of a student’s life, as well as take the burden off parents who want more than anything to be able to fulfill their child’s dream.”

Kalpesh and Shefali, who came to the United States 20 years ago with just their diplomas and their suitcases, credit their own successes to education and hard work and hope this endowed scholarship fund will ensure that bright and talented students are not stopped short of their dreams because of finances. The annual need-based scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences with preference given to students who perform community service.

“We both really believe that the best gift one can give to a child is an education,” say the Patels. “We are excited to share our reason for giving with other parents, and to let them know any contribution can snowball into changing the course of a student’s life, which is a powerful outcome.”

A Father’s Story Shantilal Patel was born in a small, rural village in India in the 1940s. His father died shortly after he was born, leaving his mother widowed with three small children. In those days, women in India were not educated and Shantilal’s mother had to farm a small parcel of land to support her young family.

Despite their meager lifestyle, Shantilal’s mother wanted to send her three boys to school knowing that education was their only way out of poverty.

An excellent student who graduated high school with academic distinction, Shantilal’s dream was to go to medical school. Despite the financial obstacles facing his family, he applied, hoping for a miracle.

“The day the acceptance letter arrived, my father was out running errands,” recounts Kalpesh, Shantilal’s son and GW parent. “His mother opened the letter and, knowing she could not afford the tuition, knew my father would be heartbroken that he was accepted but would be unable to attend. She decided to burn the letter and told my father when he returned that he had been rejected and she had burned the letter as she was angry with their decision.”

Shantilal would not discover the truth until years later and to this day often wonders what his life would be like had he attended medical school.

W i nt e r 2 010

5

GW

Power & Promise www.gwu.edu/give/powerandpromise

Hazan Gift to SMHS Designated to Foster Culture of Compassion and Philanthropy in Future Physicians Upon his return from World War II, Dr. Sol Jay Hazan, MA ’49, had passed his entrance exam and found himself at GW. It was Dr. Carlton Treadwell, an associate professor of biochemistry who accepted Dr. Hazan as his first master’s candidate and provided him with much needed employment as a lab assistant. Under the tutelage of Dr. Treadwell, Dr. Hazan discovered his aptitude for biochemistry and medicine. When Dr. Hazan decided to pursue a degree in medicine, Dr. Treadwell found him a position as a research assistant and part-time medical student with a colleague, Dr. Sam Singal, at the Medical College of Georgia.

“These two individuals were the instrument of my successful life journey and the core belief that we must continue the giving in anyway we can,” says Dr. Hazan.

His illustrious career has included managing his own practice; directing research at two major pharmaceutical companies; serving as the commanding officer of an Army health facility in Germany; as a ship’s surgeon with the U.S. Coast Guard and later as head of medicine and health safety for the first nuclear ship ever built, the N.S. Savannah.

Dr. Hazan published his autobiography in 2002, “Looking Back at My America.”

Driven by his belief in that those who have benefited from philanthropy should give back to society, Dr. Hazan made a significant gift to the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences Power & Promise Fund for student aid to benefit third- and fourth-year medical students.

6

“Giving back to the university so other students can continue their education is the only way to advance discovery and science.”

–Dr. Sol Jay Hazan Students who become Hazan scholars must meet three criteria: demonstrated academic achievement, compassion for patients, and true financial need. “I was always hardpressed for money and I want to be sure future students don’t have that worry and can concentrate on their studies,” Hazan says. “Students must care about patients from the very start. Don’t turn them away because they can’t pay—compassion has to carry through in everything we do.”

He hopes Hazan scholars will demonstrate a philanthropic spirit as they progress through their careers. “It’s important that they remember how difficult their financial situation was when they have income to give back. Giving back to the university so other students can continue their education is the only way to advance discovery and science.”

In 2010, Hazan returned to GW for the first time since earning his degree in 1949 (after serving in World War II). There was a new hospital, a greatly expanded campus, and dormitories (Hazan lived in a rooming house during his time at GW). His academic building on H Street no longer exists.

“GW has grown tremendously,” he said.

“I was very impressed.”

“I was always hard-pressed for money and I want to be sure future students don’t have that worry and can concentrate on their studies.”

–Dr. Sol Jay Hazan

www.gwu.edu/give/powerandpromise

Andrew K. Friedman Memorial Scholarship Inspires Young Grad’s Passion for Philanthropy Although Lisa Friedman never attended The George Washington University, GW will always have a special place in her heart. Her late husband, Andrew “Andy” Friedman, BA ’79, studied political science at GW and shared with his family his passion for the institution whenever possible.

“When the kids were small, if we had a layover in DC, we’d put our bags into lockers at the airport and head into the city,” Friedman recalls. “While most people would visit the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial, our family would go to GW.” Andy Friedman was among those killed in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, but his memory lives on at GW through Andrew Friedman, BA ’79 the Andrew K. Friedman Memorial Scholarship. It was her late husband’s love of his alma mater that inspired his wife to make a $50,000 gift to the GW Power & Promise Fund for student aid and endow a scholarship in his honor.

“I know what a great experience GW was for Andy and I feel like it’s fitting that his name be associated with helping the next generation of students have the same great experience,” Friedman says.

Like many GW students, Sarah Lefferts, BBA ’09, was able to come to George Washington because of the generosity of donors like Friedman. As a junior in the School of Business, Lefferts was the first student to receive the Andrew K. Friedman Scholarship.

G W I mp a c t

“Scholarships are the reason I was able to study at a top-tier university like GW, and the Andrew K. Friedman Memorial Scholarship was an important part of that,” Lefferts says.

But the scholarship did more for Lefferts than get her through school. It inspired her career.

Wanting to know more about the people who were helping to fund her education, Lefferts visited the university’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations in an effort to reach out to Lisa Friedman and her family. She left that visit not only with Friedman’s mailing address, but also with a new passion for the scholarship process at GW.

“I think Andy would be very happy to see the impact this scholarship can have on the life of a student.”

–Lisa Friedman Lefferts mailed Friedman a letter thanking her for her generosity, and the two began corresponding by mail; Friedman’s letters included newspaper clippings of stories about Andy, who was vice president for institutional equities trading at Carr Futures on the 92nd Floor of the North Tower, coached several boys’ sports teams on Long Island, and enjoyed spending time with his twin sons, Michael and Daniel, who were 11 years old at the time of his passing.

At the same time, Lefferts began working for the GW Luther Rice Society (LRS) as a student worker, gaining an understanding

Lisa Friedman, Sarah Lefferts, BBA ’09, and Daniel Friedman

of the relationship the university has with its donors and how scholarships are created.

“I already knew firsthand the impact a scholarship can have on a student, but working with LRS gave me a chance to see this process from start to finish,” says Lefferts, who is now a development officer with the Luther Rice Society. “I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it weren’t for Lisa or for Andy’s passion for GW that inspired her to endow this scholarship.”

Friedman and Lefferts met for the first time at the Luther Rice Society’s “Night at the Ballpark” event at the new Yankee Stadium in New York City in September.

For Lefferts, it was a chance to thank Friedman in person for the doors the scholarship helped open for her, and for Friedman, it was validation of her efforts to help give students the GW experience her husband cherished.

“I think Andy would be very happy to see the impact this scholarship can have on the life of a student,” Friedman says. “George Washington develops people academically, personally, and professionally. Giving in support of GW students doesn’t just send them to classes; it provides them with new opportunities to find out who they are and who they can become.”

W i nt e r 2 010

7

GW

Power & Promise www.law.gwu.edu/contribute

Foresight Key in Million Dollar Gift to him for advice not only in matters of business, but in life.”

Hyman “Hy” M. Goldstein, LLB ’19, LLM ’20, with his wife, Jeanne

The late Hyman “Hy” M. Goldstein, LLB ’19, LLM ’20, was a lawyer in private practice in Washington, D.C., devoted to the legal profession. He specialized in business, personal and estate law from the mid-1920s until his death in 1965. His nephew Morton Goldstein, JD ’61, said of Hy, “Clients, friends, and family all looked

Hy Goldstein and his wife, Jeanne, who recently passed away, demonstrated far-reaching philanthropic spirit in their bequest to The George Washington University Law School of $1.2 million to endow the Hyman M. and Jeanne K. Goldstein Scholarship Fund. The Goldstein Scholarship Fund supports students who share Hy Goldstein’s interest in innovative methods of solving disputes and commitment to alternative dispute resolution. The Goldsteins recognized the value of a law school education from GW and the unique

experience it offers. They also understood that unconstrained by student debt, students will graduate with the freedom to pursue their dreams, choose a career, and make their mark on the world.

Goldstein scholars are selected based upon “diverse undergraduate extracurricular achievements, volunteer work, and demonstrated potential for acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to become an effective mediator.” In keeping with Hy Goldstein’s future-oriented approach, scholars are expected to “possess a willingness to mentor future scholarship recipients and support others in carrying out these ideals.”

Alumnus Endows New Scholarship for Students of Trial Advocacy A new scholarship offers GW Law students the opportunity to complete their education with the assurance that they may complete their studies, even when they can afford them the least. Michael J. Avenatti’s $250,000 endowed scholarship will benefit a Law student who has “diverse undergraduate extracurricular achievements and demonstrated leadership qualities indicating unique potential for becoming an effective trial advocate, with particular emphasis on prior work experience.”

This generous gift ensures that The George Washington University will be affordable and accessible to qualified law students desiring a GW education.

8

The Michael J. Avenatti scholarship was created through a five-year pledge that awards an annual $10,000 scholarship and a $40,000 investment in an endowment.

After five years, the endowment’s investment income will fund annual scholarships.

Avenatti, JD ’00, has been a longtime supporter of The George Washington University Michael J. Avenatti, JD ’00 Law School.

He established the Michael J. Avenatti Award for Excellence in Pre-Trial and Trial

Advocacy immediately after graduating.

His next gift supported the renovation of the Jacob Burns Moot Court Room.

He recently expanded his support of GW Law by joining the School’s Board of Advisors, saying; “As a board member, I’m hoping to do everything I can to provide the same opportunities for students at GW that I had, and to further grow GW Law School’s reputation as one of the premier law schools in the country.”

Avenatti is a founding partner of the Eagan, O’Malley & Avenatti law firm, based in California. The firm represents businesses in multimillion dollar civil litigation cases.

www.gwu.edu/give/powerandpromise

Alumna Empowers Women Athletes through $100K Scholarship Although she is now a successful businesswoman and influential community leader in Las Vegas, Maureen Peckman, BS ’91, admits that she was painfully shy growing up. So shy in fact, that she wonders how things might have been different without the confidence and friendships she gained through her participation in sports. Peckman was a member of both the Women’s Rowing and Women’s Soccer teams at GW and considers her student-athlete experience an integral part of her personal development.

“Sports empower women and enable them to find their inner strength,” Peckman says. “GW soccer did that for me in so many ways, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all that program did for me.”

Now the chief emerging business officer for Cleveland Clinic Nevada, one of America’s leading multispecialty academic medical centers, Peckman is paying it forward. This year, she established a first-of-its-kind scholarship for GW Women’s Soccer players through a $100,000 gift to the Power & Promise Fund. “I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship when I Maureen Peckman, BS ’91 was at GW, and I couldn’t have attended without it,” she says. “By making this gift, I hope to enable more women to have the same great experience I did.”

Peckman also decided to give back to the university because, for a shy girl from the Midwest, GW offered a new world of opportunities. She recalls some of her best memories as experiences that only GW could provide: participating in a biology lab at the Smithsonian, attending a lecture from a State Department employee that forever held her interest in foreign policy, and watching the president of the United States wave to her and her soccer teammates from his motorcade in 1990 as they practiced along Constitution Avenue just a few blocks off campus. “GW was this morass of real life, college life, DC life, and an athlete’s life all rolled into one,” she says.

“I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship when I was at GW, and I couldn’t have attended without it. By making this gift, I hope to enable more women to have the same great experience I did.”

–Maureen Peckman Tanya Vogel, head coach of GW Women’s Soccer, echoes Peckman’s sentiments that athletics can play an influential role, particularly for women. “This scholarship will absolutely transform one young woman’s college experience,” Vogel says.

“As a part of the team, she’ll grow as a person and challenge herself to achieve things she never thought possible.”

Peckman has taken what she learned in sports to give back not only to her GW community, but her local community as well.

She is currently the chair of the Nevada Community Foundation, commissioner of the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security, chair of the Council for Conservation International, and a board member of the Agassi Foundation. She also runs a Nevada-based business group called the Council for a Better Nevada that leverages private sector resources on behalf of quality of life issues, such as public education, transportation, and tax policy.

To learn how you can contribute to the GW Power & Promise Fund for student aid, contact Matt Banks at mbanks@gwu.edu or 202-994-5125.

G W I mp a c t

W i nt e r 2 010

9

10

Smart

Investment

Play Ball!

National Pastime Brings Together All-Star Alumni Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Lemon once said that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen. For GW alumni, both were in abundance at ballparks across the country this summer during the annual Major League Baseball events hosted by the Luther Rice Society and GW Alumni Association.

Hundreds of alumni and friends gathered in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., to cheer on the hometown teams and meet with university leaders and ball club executives. New York Yankees President Randy Levine, BA ’77, welcomed members of the Luther Rice Society in New York; White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, BA ’57, mingled with attendees in Chicago; and Nationals owner Ted Lerner, AA ’48, BA ’50, and President Stan Kasten held a Q&A with alumni in D.C. that covered everything from Strasburg to community service.

GW President Steven Knapp was also on hand at the games and spoke to attendees about the exciting academic and extracurricular endeavors taking place at the university as well as the importance and impact of alumni giving.

The Luther Rice Society is a worldwide network of distinguished alumni and friends who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more to the university.* Luther Rice, the society’s namesake, raised the necessary funding to make George Washington’s vision of a university in the heart of our nation’s capital a reality.

Today, Luther Rice Society members are continuing that legacy. And while supporting the students and initiatives of GW is the primary goal, enjoying good friends and a good bullpen isn’t bad either. *$250 for alumni within 5 years of graduation; $500 for alumni 6-9 years after graduation

G W I mp a c t

Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner, AA ’48, BA ’50 and LRS members at the game

LRS New York Yankees fans join with Alan Lafer, BA ’77 and Yankees President Randy Levine, BA ’77

Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, BA ’57 welcomes GW LRS White Sox fans

To learn more about the Luther Rice Society and similar events in your area, contact Francena Jackson at 202-994-5228 or jacksonf@gwu.edu.

W i nt e r 2 010

11

Smart

Investment

Annual Giving Report

“If there is one thing that I have learned in my time in annual giving, it’s the collective impact of gifts of all sizes. Many people think that only large gifts make a difference. But the collective impact of these gifts can’t be overstated. Last year, gifts of $100 and less totaled just under $1 million,” says Rebecca Trump, director of Annual Giving. “Every gift matters, every year.”

Annual Giving FY10 Distribution

00,0 $1,5

00,0

$1,0

$50

GW’s alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and students gave generously to allocations across the university. The most popular designations were individual schools and the GW Power & Promise Fund, which raised more than $2 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

Following these were the President’s Fund for Excellence, which received $525,000 in gifts, and GW general university designations, which includes annual gifts supporting athletics, student organizations, Greek life, and more.

00

“As a scholarship recipient, it’s GW Power GW Power&&Promise PromiseGrowth Growth incredibly rewarding to hear alumni talk about how the aid they received FY07 shaped their lives,” says Cynthia FY08 Figueroa GWSB ’12, who talks to FY09 hundreds of alumni each year as a FY10 GW Colonial Connection caller. “So many people tell you that they could not have come to GW without a scholarship, and that’s why they give back. I know that I could not be here without my financial aid package. I’m honored to speak with the people who help to ensure that I can get a GW education.”

00

Annual Gifts Matter to Scholarship Recipients

$0

Annual gifts for the 2010 fiscal year totaled $5.98 million, an increase of 9 percent over the previous fiscal year. In 2010 GW also saw a 5 percent increase in annual donors.

GW Power & Promise

0,0 00

Annual Giving Total and Distribution

Since Steven Knapp became GW president in 2007, annual gifts for student aid have more than doubled. After sharing that access and affordability were among his top priorities, President Knapp announced the creation of The George Washington University Power & Promise Fund for student aid in fall 2009.

Jeremy Gosbee, BA ’98, MBA ’02, says he supports the GW Power & Promise Fund because “I was fortunate to come to GW on both merit- and need-based scholarships. I would not have been able to attend GW or even stay as a student without the support I received.”

Jeremy Gosbee, BA ’98, MBA ’02, and the first Jeremy K. Gosbee Scholarship recipient, Victoria Wright, CCAS ’13

Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Michael Morsberger is encouraged by the university’s progress. “The increases that we have seen are certainly a promising first step.

Each year that support for GW Power & Promise increases means more students who are able to enjoy all the opportunities that a GW education provides without the worry of how they are going to afford it.”

Living Up to the Cha11enge Class of 2011 launches Senior Gift Campaign

General University University Library System Deans’ Funds Athletics GW Power & Promise President’s Fund for Excellence

Building on the success of the 2010 Senior Class Campaign and its gift to the Gelman Library, the 2011 Senior Class Gift Campaign “Live up to the Cha11enge” kicked off in September by providing more than 200 seniors with a free breakfast at Alumni House. This year’s committee—which encourages, promotes, and educates the GW senior class and the larger community about the campaign—is led by Eric Thibault, CCAS ’11, and is composed of 45 members representing five undergraduate schools and more than 90 student organizations and university departments. This year’s theme encourages seniors to continue the increasing trend of senior class giving at GW by meeting their challenge of raising 1,100 senior gifts.

Eric Thibault, CCAS ’11

Campaign leaders also announced that while students can give to whatever part of the university has meant the most to them during their years at GW, their gifts will be matched by members of the Luther Rice Society in order to provide a gift on behalf of the Class of 2011. This year’s Senior Class Gift match from the Luther Rice Society has been designated to the Ron Howard Emergency Scholarship Fund, which supports students who have emergency needs not met through traditional financial aid.

Visit seniorclass.gwu.edu to learn more about the Senior Class Gift.

12

Alumnus Tom Curtis: Giving Back, Looking Forward In fall 1964, The George Washington University looked quite different from the school that sits at Foggy Bottom today.

Thurston Hall (then Superdorm) was a brand new residence, GW boasted a football team in the Southern Conference, and tuition was $14 per credit hour. This is the GW that Tom Curtis, BA ’81, MA ’95, remembers.

“The university was a massively different institution back then,” Curtis recalls. “Our student union was a small row house on G Street and there were only three or four residence halls.

It was a commuter school.”

GW has certainly grown since 1964. It now stretches seven city blocks and hosts approximately 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students from every state and more than 130 countries. But despite the contrasting campuses and the decades that separate them, the heart of the university remains unchanged: students and faculty who want to make a difference in the world.

“When I first started at GW, I was on scholarship and I couldn’t have attended without it. Now that I have the means, I want to see GW achieve world-class status and make it possible for students like me to go here.”

–Tom Curtis This is why Curtis decided to create a charitable bequest to the GW Power & Promise Fund for student aid, so that a GW education will be accessible to deserving students. “When I first started at GW, I was on scholarship and I couldn’t have attended without it,” he says. “Now that I have the means, I want to see GW achieve world-class status and make it possible for students like me to go here.”

G W I mp a c t

Curtis’ generosity has been influenced by GW in more ways than one. Not only is he inspired by the potential of the university and its students, he also earned a GW degree in economics and accounting that has fostered smart charitable decisions. A financial planner by profession, Curtis took advantage of the tax benefits that accompany an IRA bequest while achieving his philanthropic goals.

Tom Curtis, BA ’81, MA ’95

“Under ordinary circumstances, when you take money out of an IRA it becomes taxable,” Curtis says. “Upon death, the money is first taxed for estate tax purposes and then the beneficiary is taxed for income tax purposes. That means that as much as 80 cents of every dollar gets eaten up in taxes.”

Through his bequest, however, Curtis was able to control his charitable and personal objectives in tandem. By making a taxexempt organization like GW the beneficiary of his IRA, Curtis’ estate will receive a significant tax deduction and the university will receive 100 percent of the value of the IRA that remains after Curtis’ lifetime. But his smart estate planning didn’t stop there. With the expiration of the estate tax laws this year and the reset starting next year, Curtis encouraged his son to take out a life insurance policy on Curtis’ life equal to the amount of the IRA. “So when the time comes, my son gets the life insurance proceeds tax-free,” he says. “It’s a triple win.”

While the financial benefits are clear, Curtis maintains that he just hopes to make a difference. “It’s incredible to think that you can transform someone’s life by providing them with opportunities to excel,” he says. And while GW has certainly changed in the last 45 years, it continues to educate and empower students who want to make a difference in the world—much like the students of 1964.

To learn more about how a planned gift can reduce your tax burden and help GW, visit www.gwu.edu/give/plannedgiving

W i nt e r 2 010

13

Smart

Investment

Face to Face: Remembering the Past to Benefit the Future A conversation between donor Dan Simons, GWSB BBA ’92, and scholarship recipient Lily Belter, GWSB BBA ’12.

In 2009, the Scholarship for Sustainable Hospitality was established as an annual scholarship funded by Founding Farmers, Farmers & Fishers, and the Vucurevich|Simons Advisory Group. On October 5, 2010, Dan Simons of Founding Farmers and Lily Belter, the scholarship’s first recipient, met for the first time at Founding Farmers. The two shared their GW experiences and discussed what the Power & Promise Fund for student aid means to each of them.

Dan Simons: Lily, I am psyched about you being a real person I can sit down and talk with. At first you were an intangible idea of an unnamed recipient, but now it has come to life, in person, which is the whole point of this scholarship, to help a real student.

I am really excited about this opportunity to meet you and learn about you.

14

Lily Belter: Well, I’m from Lakeville, Connecticut. It’s a very small town with only one traffic light. GW is so different from back home.

DS: GW is a great place. I grew up in Boston and I visited D.C. when I was 12 and fell in love with the city. The whole college experience here was amazing; I was really fortunate.

LB: GW was my No. 1 dream school. I came down for the sports management program. I’m a junior and starting to get into the exciting classes, my major classes.

I’m in the Sport Events Hospitality track.

DS: I never would have put those together. What interested you in that area?

LB: I have always loved sports. My brother

plays baseball in California at school and I used to tag along to games. My dad was a coach for a summer league team when I was growing up and I was always on the bench keeping score. You hear people talking about doing something that you really love and being happy with what you are doing. I had heard about sports management, but it’s not a huge area of study and not a lot of schools offer it. But here, GW has a very specific program and I am actually getting to do things. We have teachers that have worked at some of the biggest sports management firms in the U.S. We had a representative from the NFL Players Association come and speak in class. It is awesome.

DS: I love hearing that. I had teachers who were in the business community or who would bring in outside speakers. I think

www.gwu.edu/give/powerandpromise you learn so much from people who are actually doing. I have a business now and I am able to look back at all of it and feel so grateful for that education.

DS: So tell me more about your career path, where do you think it’s going to go?

What’s the vision?

LB: My classes have opened up so many aspects of the field and there are so many different facets that it is hard to say specifically “this is the job I want to have” or “this is the position that I want to be in,” so I am not sure. There is promotion and marketing like the representatives from the NFL. I’ve thought about working with the NCAA. I think anything on a grand scheme like that.

DS: That’s good. It’s a pretty exciting field, and I would imagine that there are not a lot of women. I mean maybe it’s harder because I imagine it’s a boys’ club, but I think you could handle that.

LB: I would like to think so. One of my professors started a NFL event where they bring in all the rookies and they do photo shoots. It’s cool to learn about because

G W I mp a c t

she started it, and that’s something you can’t teach out of a book. She is teaching out of her experience, so it is just getting better and better. It’s great to focus on learning from these experiences and how I can use them in my future because I’m not worrying about money all the time.

DS: When I was a freshman, one of my roommates had financial aid, and I saw his stress level. I watched him worry about taking four classes instead of five and having to make tough choices, like dinner or books? He needed that help, that financial support. I think that memory lodged in my brain. So now I have a business and the chance to be involved with GW and give back. The whole scholarship idea just came together.

But I was really interested in what our scholarship recipient would be going on to do.

I also wondered about being just an anonymous donor, but the donation isn’t just from me, it is from me and my business partner, Michael Vucurevich, and Founding Farmers and Farmers & Fishers. We made a commitment to do this every year for five years, and I just wanted to know that it was going to an actual person. It’s funny, you give money to all sorts of things and you have no idea where it goes, so I am just amazed because I can meet you face to face and see what I am helping to accomplish.

LB: When I received the scholarship I made the connection because I saw you speak at the GW Women’s Business Conference and I put the face to the name.

DS: Being able to speak for some of the classes or participate in forums and conferences is, I think, a real honor. Giving

money can be intangible, but for me this — meeting you—is a pretty cool thing. I’ve learned that being involved as an alum is pretty cool, and that will be you one day.

LB: For me as a student it is exciting to see people who have graduated come back. My sorority had a panel of alums the other day who spoke about what GW has become and what it was like when they were here. It’s cool on a personal level to see people who did the exact same things as you, were part of the same organizations.

DS: So you already have a little taste of that. That is really good. GW for me is nostalgic. I was your age when I was here, so now 20 years later I can look back and experience those emotions.

And now I can come back and help students because it’s something that I think really matters. I will give you my card, and if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I am happy to help anytime.

LB: I’ll be sure I do. Thank you.

W i nt e r 2 010

15

The Student

Experience

With Phase III Nearly Complete, Students, Athletes, and Community Enjoy the Transformed Charles E. Smith Center “The first word that comes to mind when we see and experience the changes to the Smith Center is PRIDE! All the little things make a difference to our student-athletes.

Everyone who took part in the renovations has done an outstanding job and hopefully know that they have made a huge impact on the lives of not only our student-athletes but everyone who sees or visits the Charles E. Smith Center.”

–Jojit Colonel, Women’s Volleyball head coach

Thanks to the challenge gift from the Robert H. Smith and Charles E. Smith Family Foundations and Robert P. and Arlene R. Kogod, GW students and the Foggy Bottom community are already enjoying many of the transformational elements of Phases I and II of the Charles E. Smith Center project. Phase III is well under way and will dramatically enhance the exterior to create a vibrant centerpiece of campus. This final phase will complete the three-year renovation of this signature facility in the heart of the Foggy Bottom campus and community.

It includes: • A renovated exterior facade • A new hall of fame and box office entryway • An improved concessions concourse In September, more than 2,500 freshmen arrived at the refurbished “Tex” Silverman court for Freshman Convocation wearing matching T-shirts and buttons representing their school. The time-honored university tradition that marks the official start of the academic year included remarks from GW President Steven Knapp and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Steven Lerman.

16

Student athletes in volleyball and water polo, among other teams, began their seasons in the new facilities. As students, they take advantage of the new academic center to maintain their academic status; as athletes, they enjoy new locker rooms for each sport, updated exercise facilities, and a cutting-edge sports medicine suite.

“After watching the walls come down and the glass go up, it’s so exciting to see that the Smith Center is almost done with its transformation. From Convocation and the Freshman Day of Service to the start of basketball season and Colonials Weekend, the new facade on the building is certainly going to bring a much bigger spark to the GW Athletics program and the special events that take place there.”

–Jason Lifton, GW Student Association president Please join us in the completion of this signature transformation by contributing to the generous $10 million matching challenge gift from the Smith and Kogod families. Learn more about gift and naming opportunities by contacting Dan Rocha at drocha@gwu.edu or 202-994-9366.

Visit go.gwu.edu/charlesesmithphase3 to view photos and video of the transformation.

Transforming a Center for Colonials The university Receives $1 Million Donation Toward Charles E. Smith Center Initiative GW is closing in on its fundraising goal for the Charles E. Smith Center thanks to a generous donation from a university supporter.

Willard Hackerman and the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company have donated $1 million toward the transformation of the Charles E. Smith Center, bringing the total raised by GW for the project to $8.9 million.

“I have admired Willard Hackerman’s leadership and generosity for many years,” says GW President Steven Knapp. “I am grateful that he is playing such an important role in the transformation of the Charles E. Smith Center.”

Updates to the Charles E. Smith Center include an expanded academic center, weight room and updated sports medicine facility; an Athletic Directors Club and Colonial Club for fans; and new look for the building’s exterior entrance and box office.

Hackerman is president and chief executive officer of Whiting-Turner, one of the contractors on the Charles E. Smith Center, which is currently in its final phase of construction.

Hackerman has been employed with Whiting-Turner Contracting Company since 1938. The company, which was founded in 1909 to build sewer lines, has grown into one of the nation’s largest contracting firms with 29 U.S. offices and a portfolio ranging from high-profile shopping malls to prominent national landmarks.

The firm provides construction management, general contracting and design/build services, primarily for large commercial, institutional and infrastructure projects in the United States. A key player in retail construction, the company also undertakes such projects as theme parks, stadiums, and corporate headquarters.

Willard Hackerman

G W I mp a c t

W i nt e r 2 010

17

GW

News

GW Board of Trustees Approves Science and Engineering Complex The GW Board of Trustees gave the university a green light to build the proposed state-of-the-art, $275 million Science and Engineering Complex on the Foggy Bottom campus.

The board unanimously approved the project after reviewing the design and hearing from university leaders about the effects the complex would have on learning, research, and recruitment.

“The board fully supports the mission of the Science and Engineering Complex and recognizes that it will transform GW and help us strengthen our reputation as a premier research institution in the nation’s capital,” said Board of Trustees

18

Chairman W. Russell Ramsey, BBA ’81. “It will be a powerful magnet for world-class faculty and students and provide stateof-the-art yet flexible learning and research space for them to work collaboratively with corporate and government partners.”

The eight-story building will nearly double the amount of space currently available at GW for science and engineering.

The complex will include approximately 400,000 square feet above ground and yield 290,000 square feet of assignable space for teaching and research laboratories for faculty and students in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

“The board’s decision to build the Science and Engineering Complex marks an important milestone in the development of George Washington into a world-class research university.”

–Steven Knapp President of The George Washington University

The School of Medicine and Health Sciences and collaborators across the university will also conduct research in the building. A typical floor in the new complex will include research and teaching areas as well as faculty offices and breakout spaces.

“The board’s decision to build the Science and Engineering Complex marks an important milestone in the development of George Washington into a world-class research university,” GW President Steven Knapp said. “This crucial addition to our academic facilities will open countless new opportunities for learning and research, to the benefit of students and faculty in a very wide range of fields.”

The building, which will be located on the site of the current University Parking Garage at 22nd and H streets, will feature two levels of below-ground program space, approximately 350 underground parking spaces, and a retail venue on the ground floor along Eye Street. Sustainability is a critical component of the programming and design for the complex. The building will be constructed in accordance to LEED standards targeting silver certification or higher.

The building is expected to be completed in late 2014 with occupancy expected in early 2015. Project planning has been under way since 2006.

Learn more about the Science and Engineering Complex and stay current on important developments by visiting the SEC web site at www.gwu.edu/~sec

G W I mp a c t

W i nt e r 2 010

19

GW

News

Second Annual GW Global Forum Convenes in NYC Alumni, Faculty, and Friends Discuss Global Issues at Two-Day Event The second annual GW Global Forum, held Oct. 28-29 in New York City, brought together hundreds of alumni, faculty, and friends to discuss global issues and connect with fellow Colonials. The forum’s 200-plus attendees hailed from 14 different countries.

The lineup included keynote speakers Anwar Gargash, CCAS BA ’81, MA ‘84 and GW Parent, minister of state for foreign affairs, United Arab Emirates; Elisabeth Preval, GWSB MBA ’88 and GW Parent, first lady, Republic of Haiti; Carlos Slim, chairman, Grupo Carso and chairman, Instituto Carlos Slim de la Salud; and John W. Snow, LAW JD ’67, 73rd secretary, U.S. Department of Treasury.

School of Media and Public Affairs Director Frank Sesno interviewed both Slim and Snow. He asked the former

Treasury Secretary about the dynamic between the U.S. and China.

“We each have an interest in seeing the other do well,” Snow said. “When China does well, it creates opportunities for our markets… China wants to see us do well, in the sense that they want to see us continue to be a market for them and they also want to see our treasuries continue to hold value.”

Sesno chatted with Slim about his business and philanthropic interests, which led Sesno to ask, “If there were one problem in the world that you could fix, what would that be?”

“Poverty,” Slim answered. “I think poverty in the past was a problem of social justice, it was an ethical problem. Today it is an economic need.”

Slim used the Global Forum as an opportunity to announce that he will support GW’s efforts to develop vaccines to combat neglected diseases in Latin America. The “Slim Initiative for Antipoverty Vaccine Development” will accelerate the development of new vaccines while simultaneously strengthening vaccine research capacity in Mexico; it also will promote the establishment of a biotechnology consortium from institutions in Mexico and the United States, which will be organized by GW. In her luncheon keynote remarks Préval outlined the significant challenges faced by her country after the Jan. 12 earthquake but remarked that she was encouraged by the resolve of the Haitian people.

John Snow (left), Elisabeth Preval (center) and Carlos Slim (right) offered remarks at George Washington University’s Global Forum in New York City.

20

alumni.gwu.edu/globalforum

“The solidarity expressed by the international community after the earthquake and with the recent surge of cholera was crucial for Haiti,” Preval said. She went on to thank GW for its “constant and growing effort to support the reconstruction process of Haiti.”

Chris Fussner, ESIA BA ‘79, traveled from Singapore for the Global Forum-NYC. “In one day they have so many speakers,” he noted. “If you look at [the forum’s] agenda—Amazing!”

In addition to the keynote speakers, the forum program also included two panel discussions.

G W I mp a c t

One session analyzed the impact of the global financial crisis. The panel was moderated by GW School of Business Dean Doug Guthrie and featured Wal-Mart India CEO Raj Jain, GW Parent; ZAN Partners Ltd. Managing Partner Zain Naqi, GWSB BBA ‘82 and GW Parent; and Esas Holding CEO Cagatay (Chaatai) Ozdogru, SEAS MS ‘91.

The afternoon discussion tackled global women’s issues. The panel was moderated by GW Elliott School of International Affairs Associate Dean Barbara Miller and featured GW School of Public Health and Health Services Dean Lynn Goldman; GW Department

of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine Chair Peter Hotez; and Senior Legal Officer for the International Organization for Migration Heike Niebergall, LAW, LLM ‘03.

The inaugural GW Global Forum was held in Hong Kong in November 2009.

An announcement on the location of the 2011 GW Global Forum will be made soon.

For video and photos from the GW Global Forum-NYC, visit alumni.gwu.edu/ globalforum

W i nt e r 2 010

21

GW

News

$2 Million Contribution from Teamsters Establishes Labor History Research Center at Gelman Library GW’s is First Major Labor History Center to Open in the U.S. in 30 Years GW President Steven Knapp and International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James P. Hoffa christened the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Labor History Research Center with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony at the university’s Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library in early October. Thanks to generous contributions from the Teamsters, the IBT archives will reside permanently within the library’s Special Collections Research Center. The Teamsters archive is among the nation’s pre-eminent collections of primary labor movement documents.

“The George Washington University is honored to house this remarkable archive of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters,” Knapp said. “This collection

will serve as an invaluable resource for our students and faculty as well as for scholars from around the world.”

In 2007, the IBT contributed $2 million to the university to establish an exhibition of its archives to enhance research on 20th century U.S. labor relations. Due to GW’s partnership with the organization, rare historical papers, letters, and photographs documenting the rise of America’s middle class became available and open to the public for the first time.

Research partnerships like the one created through the IBT Labor History Research Center provide unique resources on campus that complement the university’s accessibility to organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution and Library of Congress. In the 21st century,

“This collection will serve as an invaluable resource for our students and faculty as well as for scholars from around the world,” –Steven Knapp GW’s faculty, students, and alumni have the opportunity to push beyond the current knowledge barriers to open new doors of discovery—made possible in large part to the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends of GW. The center’s inaugural exhibit, “Teamsters Pride is Union Pride: Identity, Community and Solidarity,” is an introduction to the union, tracing its origin and its makeup through photos, film, audio recordings, and other materials. The archives, which date back to the early 1900s, are under the care of the Special Collections Research Center.

President Steven Knapp and IBT General President James P. Hoffa 22

“With the establishment of this labor research center, the Teamsters Union will be able to share its history and heritage with future generations,” Hoffa said.

“These archives serve as a record of the monumental struggle working families endured to secure the labor rights we all enjoy today.”

GW Hosts Second Annual Women & Philanthropy Forum The second annual Women & Philanthropy Forum brought together 100 women to discuss the scope and impact of women’s wealth and to highlight the social and economic change driven by women’s philanthropy last spring.

The forum—themed “Women Share Their Stories”— featured keynote addresses from GW Board of Trustees member Ellen Zane, CCAS BA ‘73, president & CEO of the Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children, and international philanthropist Alice Chiu.

A panel discussion featured Carol S. Engel, GWSB BBA ‘85, MBA ‘88, founder, C.S. Engel & Associates; Steffanie Burgevin, CCAS BA ‘68, senior vice president-investment officer with Wells Fargo Advisors; Jane Cafritz, private practice real estate development attorney, and Ellen Macks, GW Parent and civic leader.

The 2011 Women & Philanthropy Forum will be held on Wednesday, May 4, in Washington, D.C.

Left to Right: Ellen Zane, Steffanie Burgevin, Carol Engel, Alice Chiu, Ellen Macks, and Jane Cafritz.

Oman 2010: 40 Years—Building the Future On September 30, The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center and the Elliott School of International Affairs’ Middle East Policy Forum hosted “Oman 2010: 40 Years— Building the Future,” a conference for the 40th anniversary of the accession of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. A dinner after the conference included Queen Noor of Jordan; Hunaina Sultan Al-Mughairy, Omani ambassador to the United States; and Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, the Omani secretarygeneral of foreign affairs.

G W I mp a c t

Queen Noor, Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, Diane Robinson Knapp, President Steven Knapp

W i nt e r 2 010

23

GW

News

GW Honors Distinguished Alumni President Steven Knapp and the GW Alumni Association honored seven Colonials with Alumni Achievement Awards at a ceremony at Washington’s W Hotel on September 30, 2010.

The 2010 Distinguished Alumni Achievement awards recipients are: Gregory G. Garre, JD ’91, partner at Latham & Watkins LLP and former U.S. Solicitor General; Lori B. Garver, MA ’89, deputy administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Rose Gottemoeller, MA ’81, assistant secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation; Asghar Mostafa, BS ’82, president, CEO and chairman of Entourage Systems Inc.; and Ellen Zane, BA ’73, president and CEO of Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children.

This year’s Recent Alumni Achievement Award honorees are: Michael J. Avenatti, JD ’00, a founding partner of Eagan O’Malley & Avenatti; and Vanessa Maltin, BA ’05, food and lifestyle editor for Delight! Magazine and the author of two gluten-free cookbooks.

Left to right: Lori Garver, Ellen Zane, Rose Gottemoeller, Michael Avenatti, GW President Steven Knapp, Asghar Mostafa, Vanessa Maltin, and Gregory G. Garre.

Alumni Achievement Awards are the highest form of recognition given to alumni on an annual basis. Recipients have made a lasting impact on society through outstanding professional, voluntary, or philanthropic accomplishments.

Barenaked Ladies Rocks Alumni Weekend 2010 More than 2,500 alumni and friends returned to campus to participate in the 50-plus events scheduled from September 30 to October 3, during Alumni Weekend 2010.

One of the highlights of the weekend was a concert by Barenaked Ladies. Luther Rice Society members were invited to a special pre-show reception and meet and greet with the band.

To view more photos from the weekend, visit alumni.gwu.edu/aw.

24

Passion for

Changing the World

Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.), MPA ’86, Receives Second Annual Colin Powell Public Service Award On September 24, Adm. Thad Allen (Ret.), MPA ’86, former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, returned to his alma mater to share his experiences as national incident commander of the BP oil spill for the first time on a college campus. Allen spoke to students and alumni from the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration on “Unprecedented Events, Unprecedented Leadership Challenges” and received the university’s Colin Powell Public Service Award from W. Russell Ramsey, BBA ’81, chairman of the GW Board of Trustees, and GW President Steven Knapp in the Jack Morton Auditorium. The award is in the spirit of its namesake, former Secretary of State and Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, MBA ’71.

Adm. Thad Allen (Ret.) shared his experiences as national incident commander of the BP oil spill for the first time on a college campus.

A Gift of the Soul Although gifts come to the university in many shapes and forms, not many bring the visual beauty that comes with a piece of art given by the artist himself.

John Safer, AA ’46, BA ’47, received his degrees in economics from GW; but it is his 2009 honorary Doctor of Fine Arts that most reflects his contributions to the university.

Sculptor John Safer at the installation of his work “Null Space” at the F Street House G W I mp a c t

Three of the renowned sculptor’s works reside on the Foggy Bottom Campus.

“Limits of Infinity III” (1995) is a 15-foot bronze sculpture in the rose garden near University Yard. “Golden Quill” (1996), which depicts a life-sized quill, stands in the first floor of the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library.

The third piece, “Null Space” (1979), a tall, twisted and highly polished work that Safer recently donated to the university, was installed at the F Street House on July 29 and unveiled in a private ceremony this fall. Safer joined GW President Steven Knapp at the unveiling and the opening of an exhibit of 21 of Safer’s works at the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery that ran through the month of October.

Safer donated 40 percent of all sales from the Brady Gallery show to the university.

“I really don’t know of a better cause than education to which anyone could contribute,” Safer said.

W i nt e r 2 010

25

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 20037

Cert no. SW-COC-001551

Creating a Meaningful Legacy at GW is easy.

If you have a retirement plan, it’s easy to help deserving students receive a world-class education in the nation’s capital. You can name GW as a beneficiary of some or all of the funds that may remain in your IRA, 401(k), or other plan after your lifetime. Just complete a new beneficiary designation form that includes GW and its Tax ID number (53-0196584) and submit it to your plan administrator.

A few of the benefits:

“It’s incredible that you can transform someone’s life by providing them with opportunities to excel.”

TOM CURTIS, BA ’81, MA ’95 Tom is supporting the GW Power & Promise Fund for student aid through his IRA. His estate will receive a significant tax deduction and GW will receive the designated portion of his IRA tax-free.

 No change in lifestyle since your gift comes from leftover funds.  Elimination of income and estate taxes that otherwise would be due.  Flexibility to support the program of your choice.

GW can answer your questions to help make it even easier. Contact us today!

CALL: 202-994-7657 EMAIL: plannedgiving1@gwu.edu ONLINE: www.gwu.edu/give/plannedgiving