GW Impact, Summer 2013

Summer 2013

The

George

Wa shington

Uni v ersit y

I m pa c t R eport on Phil a n thropy

fighting a hidden hunger When was the last time you went truly hungry? How frequently, if ever, have you been forced to sacrifice meals to keep a roof over your head? For some students at the George Washington University, the answer might be “too recently” and “too often,” but one long-time friend of the university is working to change that.

Cover Story, page 10

IN THIS ISSUE: Capital Correspondence

| A Home for The Hatchet

| Behind the Scenes at MTV with Van Toffler

S umme r 2 0 1 3

T h e

G eo rg e

Wa sh i n g to n

U n i v ersi t y

I m pa c t R eport on Phil a n t h ropy

2 The Power of Giving Capital Correspondence

10 COVER STORY

Mount Vernon History on Display A Legacy of Giving A Natural Bond Just What the Doctor Ordered Athletics Roundup

6 Knowledge in Action Facing the Facts Global Community, Global Family, Global Giving Manheim-Sterling Undergraduate Prizes Corporation and Foundation Giving

12 Student Experience GW Business Plan Competition Turns 5 A Home for The Hatchet

14 GW Power & Promise

Fighting a Hidden Hunger

Making History Fostering Mexican Leaders New Scholarship for School of Nursing Leading the Class Connecting Donors and Students Raising High GW

16 GW News Heritage Society Spring Luncheon “On the Board” Behind the Scenes at MTV with Van Toffler, BA ‘80 Fungers Awarded President’s Medal Trustee Endows Lecture for Business Students University Museum Names Director, Begins Construction International Exchange Program Established at GW University Receives $4 Million from Kuwait Government Law School Announces Paul A. Volcker Scholarships Students Awarded Internship Fund Grants GW, Partners Launch National Civil War Project Planned Gift Will Support the Arts In Memoriam: Lloyd Elliott

Editor: Gray Turner President of the University: Steven Knapp Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations: Michael J. Morsberger Associate Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations: Karen L. Greene Senior Executive Director of Development Communications: Patricia Danver Photographers: Jessica McConnell Burt William Atkins Dave Scavone Design: GW Marketing and Creative Services 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.

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.

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

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

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The Power of Givin g GW Museum

Capital Correspondence Albert H. Small donates historic letter to GW.

Albert H. Small speaks to members of the GW community at the inaugural Washingtoniana Symposium and Luncheon.

Collector Albert H. Small has donated a 220-year old letter from President George Washington for the George Washington University Museum.

Purchased at auction for $240,000, the letter will become a part of The Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection in the new GW Museum on the Foggy Bottom Campus, where it will be accessible to students, scholars, and the public.

Dated November 30, 1792—eight years before Congress would hold its first session in Washington, DC—the letter

gives insight into President Washington’s perspective and feelings about Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the architect of the nation’s capital.

Mr. Small says he knew the letter would be a significant addition to his Washingtoniana Collection, which includes maps, drawings, letters, documents, lithographs, and books relating to the history and evolution of the nation’s capital that he collected over a period of more than 60 years. He donated the materials to GW in 2011.

Mount Vernon History on Display It’s not uncommon to see students reading on the lawn or playing softball on the George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Campus (MVC), but GW students studying in Eckles Library and walking between classes in Ames Hall may soon find such scenes from the campus’s history as an all-girls school on display.

Images – like this one of two Mount Vernon Seminary students reading on the school’s Nebraska Avenue campus in 1920 – and other memorabilia will be on display on the Mount Vernon Campus with support of the Mount Vernon Archives Fund.

Utilizing materials from the Mount Vernon Seminary and College collection, these exhibits will provide a visual and historical representation of the school.

The Mount Vernon Archive Fund was recently established to increase the visibility of the archives by supporting such historical exhibits on the “Documenting over 120 years of the school’s existence, Mount Vernon campus. The Mount Vernon Archive Fund will the Mount Vernon Seminary and College collection is an also support the processing of amazing resource for students, faculty, and researchers archival materials to make them on the history of the institution and its context in available to GW students, faculty, Washington, DC, history.” and researchers.

-University Archivist Bergis Jules “Documenting over 120 years of the school’s existence, the Mount Vernon Seminary and College collection is an

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amazing resource for students, faculty, and researchers on the history of the institution and its context in Washington, DC, history,” says University Archivist Bergis Jules. “Most importantly, it keeps the story of the Seminary and College and the young women who studied there alive and vibrant.”

As the first academic institution of higher learning available to women in the District of Columbia, Mount Vernon Seminary and College holds tremendous significance for scholars studying women’s history, the history of higher education in the United States, and the history of Washington, DC. Mount Vernon Seminary and College merged with George Washington in 1999. Today its campus in northwest DC is home to GW’s Women’s Leadership Program, six varsity athletic teams, and several academic programs.

Individuals interested in supporting the Mount Vernon Seminary and College collection can contact the GW Libraries Development Office at 202-994-1163.

giving.gwu.edu

President Steven Knapp and Evelyn Y. Davis

$ 1 3 0,0 0 0 D o n at i o n

A Natural Bond GWSB/SMHs

A Legacy of Giving Corporate responsibility advocate Evelyn Y. Davis continues support of GW with $1 million gift to GWSB and SMHS. Nationally recognized corporate responsibility advocate Evelyn Y. Davis donated $1 million this winter to support the George Washington University School of Business and School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

“This inspiring gift will help ensure the ability of our School of Business to continue engaging the issues of corporate responsibility that have been the focus of Mrs. Davis’s highly influential work,” said George Washington President Steven Knapp. “It will also continue her legacy of supporting the university’s role in medical education and care.”

Founder of the nationally recognized publication “Highlights and Lowlights,” a newsletter that covers financial topics such as corporate governance and executive compensation, Mrs. Davis has gained a well-deserved reputation for holding companies and their executives accountable. A generous supporter of GW over the years, she has previously contributed to the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, the School of Media and Public Affairs, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the George Washington University Hospital.

“As a long-time resident of Washington and a former student at George Washington, I am honored to be able to support this prominent institution in our nation’s capital,” said Mrs. Davis.

Mrs. Davis, who studied business administration at George Washington, has lectured on corporate governance at many universities and colleges and is a regular on prestigious national television networks and programs, including CNBC, CNN, the Nightly Business Report, Fox Television, and the Today Show.

Local company donates lab equipment to GW. A recent donation from Vanda Pharmaceuticals is providing more handson learning opportunities for students in several George Washington University biology labs. The local biopharmaceutical development company donated about $130,000 worth of lab equipment to the university, including a spectrophotometer, three thermocyclers, ultra-low-temperature freezers, and many sets of lab racks, pipettes, and other basic lab gear.

The donated equipment was used at Vanda, but the models are newer than the equipment used in teaching biology labs on campus. Vanda CEO Mihael Polymeropoulos said GW was a natural choice for the equipment for several reasons, including Vanda’s location as a neighbor to the Foggy Bottom Campus and his own close ties to the university.

“My conviction and commitment to GW goes beyond location and extends many years back, as an adjunct faculty of the genetics program and, most recently, with three of my children attending GW as undergrads,” said Dr. Polymeropoulos. “At Vanda, we look forward to forging a strong relationship with the GW students and faculty for years to come.”

The equipment has been placed in teaching labs on the Mount Vernon Campus, where it will be used for molecular biology, physiology and genetics classes, introductory biology for nonscience majors, and a new biology class for the Women’s Leadership Program.

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The Power of Givin g Just What the Doctor Ordered Grateful alumnus pays back debt of gratitude with annual gifts.

“I had no parents and no money. There was not much in the way of financial aid available, and tuition was higher than I could afford.”

That was the reality that Fred Kohanna, MD ’78 was facing as a 22-year old young man on the verge of entering his first year at GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Fred Kohanna, MD ‘78

It was Fred Kohanna’s lifelong dream to become a doctor, but tuition wasn’t the only hurdle Fred Kohanna had to overcome. His father passed away when he was 13 years old, and he lost his mother just three days before he started his freshman year at Columbia University.

“I struggled to settle down and get back on my feet emotionally that first year of college,” he remembers.

“It was a difficult time and my academics suffered.

Knowing how competitive medical school admissions were, I knew I had to refocus and commit myself to following my dream.”

Few medical schools seemed willing to look beyond the academic repercussions of that first year, but that all changed the day Dr. Kohanna came to George Washington for an admissions interview and met Dr. Robert I. Keimowitz, professor emeritus and former assistant dean of admissions for GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS).

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of those special individuals who believed and took a chance on me. It’s my hope that future GW students receive that same kind of support during their time at George Washington.”

- Dr. Kohanna

“A lot of medical schools didn’t cut me any slack for what had happened in my life, but when I came to GW Dr. Keimowitz took my personal circumstances into consideration,” says Dr. Kohanna. “He took time in the interview to get to know me as a person, not just an applicant. I will always be appreciative of that consideration.”

Dr. Kohanna was thrilled when he was accepted into SMHS–the only school that offered him admission– but the financial cost of pursuing his dream seemed as if it might be too high to overcome. He says that the school recognized his need but didn’t have the financial aid funds available to help him at that

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time. After an exhaustive search, he found a DC philanthropist who was willing to help pay for the cost of medical school on the condition that Dr. Kohanna remained in good standing.

Now a successful physician with 30 years’ experience in emergency medicine and occupational and environmental medicine, Dr. Kohanna credits the training he received at SMHS for positioning him to succeed.

“My education and training at GW left me better prepared for my internship than a lot of my peers from other medical schools,” he says. “I was able to perform procedures and evaluate patients at a level that not everyone could match. GW is still very well respected among my peers today, and I’m very proud to tell people that the George Washington University is where I went to medical school.”

Dr. Kohanna also acknowledges the role financial aid played in his life and has subsequently supported GW and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences with a gift every year for the past 30 years. He plans to continue to support the school, eventually increasing his giving once his children have graduated college.

“I will always be extremely grateful to GW for what they provided me in terms of my education and my career as a physician,” adds Dr. Kohanna. “Making these annual gifts is my way of repaying a debt of gratitude. I’m not a big contributor, but a consistent one, and I think that commitment to support is an important one.”

He understands the importance of financial aid to students and believes that efforts like the GW Power & Promise Fund for Student Aid–created in 2009 by GW President Steven Knapp–is important to ensuring students at GW can afford a world-class education.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of those special individuals who believed and took a chance on me,” says Dr. Kohanna. “It’s my hope that future GW students receive that same kind of support during their time at George Washington.”

For more information on how you can support the GW Power & Promise Fund for Student Aid, contact Matt Banks at mbanks@gwu.edu or 202-994-5125.

giving.gwu.edu

Athletics roundup

Barcroft Park Opening After beginning its 2013 season with two consecutive road series, the George Washington baseball team opened the inaugural season at its fully renovated home facility March 1–3 against Quinnipiac University. Led by new Head Coach Gregg Ritchie, BBA ’86—a former professional player and coach and member of the GW Athletic Hall of Fame—the Colonials hosted 28 games at the fully-renovated Barcroft Park in Arlington, VA, this past season.

With construction and renovations now complete, Barcroft Park is one of the top collegiate facilities in the region. Upgraded amenities include a new FieldTurf playing surface, expanded grandstand-style seating, covered dugouts, bullpens, batting cages, and press box. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated park, hosted by President Steven Knapp and Chairman of the GW Board of Trustees W. Russell Ramsey, BBA ‘81, was held Saturday, March 2.

“GW Baseball is making tremendous strides, and as a former player, I am proud of the new Barcroft Park,” says Ritchie. “The updated facilities will create outstanding opportunities for our student-athletes and coaches; both today and in the future.”

The Barcroft Park renovation project was made possible by funding from former players, GW alumni, and fans of GW baseball through donations to the Buff & Blue Fund. This fund—which supports players and coaches from all 23 varsity teams—is essential to the future of GW Athletics.

“The Buff & Blue Fund provides resources for leadership development, recruiting, team travel, equipment, and facility projects like Barcroft Park,” says MG Bailey, assistant director of athletics development. “Philanthropic support for GW Athletics is an important part of ensuring our more than 450 student-athletes succeed on the field, in the classroom, and in life after GW.”

“GW Baseball is making tremendous strides, and as a former player, I am proud of the new Barcroft Park.”

-Gregg Ritchie, BBA ‘86

GW Provost Steve Lerman (left), Park and Natural Resources Chief Caroline Temmermand, and Chair of the Arlington Sports Commission Craig Esherick (right) toss out the Ceremonial First Pitches for the Colonials first game at newly renovated Barcroft Park.

To learn more about the Buff & Blue Fund and how it supports GW’s student-athletes, contact: MG Bailey at mgbailey@gwu.edu or 202-994-8412.

To make a gift today, visit: go.gwu.edu/ give2athletics.

New Advisory Council Leads Charge for Athletics The GW Athletics National Advisory Council was established in 2012 to provide volunteer and philanthropic leadership to the department of athletics by engaging key stakeholders and constituents of GW Athletics.

Co-chaired by GW Trustee and President of the New York Yankees Randy Levine, BA ’77, and alumna Michelle Rubin, BA ’91, the council comprises a cross-section of GW Athletics and Recreation stakeholders and is composed of three subcommittees:

Fundraising Committee Committed to supporting GW Athletics through promotion of the Buff & Blue Fund, this committee hosts fundraising events, engages former GW players in special giving initiatives, and ensures that philanthropy remains a priority of the Council.

Engagement Committee In addition to engaging GW Athletics Alumni with their teams, the Athletics Department, and the university, this committee identifies ways to use GW Athletics to engage all GW Alumni with the university as a whole.

Mentoring Committee Charged with helping current studentathletes make professional and personal connections that will foster their development, members of this committee provide mentoring and career advice to prepare GW student-athletes for life after graduation.

For more information on the Advisory Council, visit: http://www.gwsports.com/genrel/ bbfund-council.html.

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Knowled g e in Action Facing the Facts Philanthropy-funded SMPA initiative sparks bi-partisan dialogue.

Did you know that only 52.3% of American women were in the workforce in 2011, the lowest percentage since 1983? Or that college enrollment in the U.S. is up 37.3% since 2000, despite the rising costs? Thanks to Face the Facts USA—a bi-partisan initiative at GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs—more people are becoming informed about the major issues that face this country.

Funded by a $1 million gift from philanthropist Edward Scott, Jr., Face the Facts USA began releasing a fact a day 100 days before last November’s election. But even after the last ballot was cast, the initiative has continued to provide the public with a new fact each day. Infographics, photo galleries, and videos supplement the daily facts, which cover important topics like education, healthcare, the economy, and national security, among others.

“The idea behind Face the Facts is to force people to get into the habit of understanding the facts and getting involved in public debate,” says Mr. Scott, an experienced and successful businessman who spent 17 years as an executive in the U.S. government. “The importance of that didn’t change after November.”

Mr. Scott hopes that additional funding will allow Face the Facts to carry on into the future and continue to encourage the public to engage in open discourse on the state of the country.

Visit facethefactsusa.org to get involved.

For more information on how you can support Face the Facts USA, please contact Laura Fruge at lauraf@gwu.edu or 202-994-9169

The Taiwan Resource Center is an important part of the Global Resources Center (pictured) at Gelman Library on GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus.

Global Community, Global Family, Global Giving International Alumni Group Supports Resource Center at Gelman Library With alumni in more than 150 countries around the world, the GW community is a truly global one. Alumni in one of these countries recently came together to make a gift that will have an impact on students, professors, and researchers here in the heart of Washington, DC. GW’s Taiwan Alumni Association donated $15,000 in support of the Taiwan Resource Center (TRC) at the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library.

The Taiwan Resource Center is a part of the Gelman Library’s Global Resources Center, which collects materials related to the political, socioeconomic, historical, and cultural aspects of countries and regions around the globe. The TRC’s collection contains print materials and electronic databases in Chinese, English, and Japanese related to the history, politics, economy, public policy, national security, and foreign relations of Taiwan.

During a November trip to Taiwan, university representatives joined members of GW’s Taiwan Alumni Association (TAA), which includes over 745 GW alumni living in Taiwan, to celebrate their gift. TAA President Alexander Huang, PhD ’94, who spoke for his fellow alumni during the check presentation ceremony, reinforced the connection among all George Washington alumni around the world, stating that “We are all part of one family!”

The generous donation from the TAA will go directly to support subscriptions for the full-text electronic databases that the Taiwan Resource Center makes available to GW students, faculty, and researchers. Filled with full series of important newspapers, periodicals, documents, and other cultural materials, these databases are not available as a group anywhere else in the United States and serve as an important core for the TRC collection due to the quality and significance of the material they contain.

SMPA Director Frank Sesno moderates a bi-partisan panel featuring several distinguished journalists and political leaders during a Face the Facts USA event in January.

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To learn more about how you can support the GW Libraries and its collections, contact the GW Libraries Development Office at gwlibdev@gwu.edu or 202-994-1163.

To make a gift today, visit go.gwu.edu/supportlibraries.

giving.gwu.edu

New SMPA Undergraduate Prize

Senior Sara Snyder and junior Sarah Ferris are the inaugural winners of the School of Media and Public Affairs’ Manheim-Sterling Undergraduate Research Prizes.

Manheim-Sterling Undergraduate Prizes New philanthropy-funded SMPA undergraduate prizes sponsor creative student research.

Sara Snyder walks down a busy street in New York City with her filming equipment in tow. She’s been shooting film and conducting interviews for a few days, but there’s still a lot of work to do on her short documentary film. It’s March, and while many college students around the country are spending their Spring Break sunning themselves in Key West or Cancun, the senior political communications major has travelled to New York to interview homeless LGBTQ youth about the reality of their lives and the hardships they face on a daily basis.

“This film on LGBTQ homeless youth is already challenging me in ways that I couldn’t really imagine, and I couldn’t be more excited about it,” Snyder says. “This project is the start to a learning experience that I am so grateful to have.”

Snyder is producing the short video documentary under the mentorship of Professor Jason Osder, an instructor and filmmaker at GW’s Documentary Center, thanks to a new prize awarded to undergraduate students in GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA). Snyder was announced as one of the inaugural winners of the Manheim-Sterling Undergraduate Research Prize at the start of the spring semester.

Named in honor of legendary SMPA faculty members Jerry Manheim and Chris Sterling, who retired in 2012, the ManheimSterling Undergraduate Research Prizes are designed to support and encourage outstanding mentored undergraduate research and creative activity in the School of Media and Public Affairs. SMPA will award two prizes each academic year, one for a political communication major and one for a journalism and mass communication major.

The prize will also fund junior Sarah Ferris’s three-week trip to Kenya this summer to study activist networks that are fueling change in the region. The project is a continuation of an independent study overseen by SMPA Professor Steven Livingston on the impact of information technologies on governance and development. The journalism major believes that spending time meeting local partners in Kenya will help her understand how the tools being used there can be further developed in other parts of the world.

“I’ve studied advocacy networks and information technology in developing nations for the last year with Professor Livingston, but I know three weeks of research in Nairobi will more profoundly shape my understanding of these issues than years of taking classes and reading the work

of others,” says Ferris. “This opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without the Manheim-Sterling Prize.”

The awards are designed to afford students an opportunity to leverage the many benefits that result from undertaking a serious research project or creative work and from establishing a close mentoring relationship with a faculty member. The prizes were funded by donations from parents, alumni, faculty, and students of SMPA, but fundraising efforts are still underway to endow the prizes and ensure that they can be awarded in perpetuity.

“The Manheim-Sterling Undergraduate Prizes offer a unique opportunity for SMPA students to conduct creative and thoughtprovoking research,” says Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs. “These awards will honor Jerry Manheim and Chris Sterling’s contributions and tireless dedication to GW students.

The overwhelming commitment from members of the GW community to fund these prizes reflects just how many lives they have touched.”

To support the Manheim-Sterling Undergraduate Prizes or other important SMPA programs, please contact Laura Fruge at 202-994-9169 or lauraf@gwu.edu.

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Knowled g e in Action

Corporations & Foundations

Partnerships with corporations and foundations are essential to advancing the work done by the students and faculty at the George Washington University.

Each year, GW scholars and researchers are able to pursue new knowledge and understanding thanks to the generous financial support and close partnering with some of the world’s leading corporations and most distinguished foundations.

Siemens Foundation

Jeremy Appelbaum, William Gil, and Allen Shin won $100,000 in scholarship funds after taking first prize in the Siemens Team Competition.

Researchers on the Rise GW hosts annual Siemens competition finals showcasing young researchers.

Some of the nation’s brightest high school students converged on Washington, DC, last December as a result of a three-year partnership between the George Washington University and the Siemens Foundation. Six individuals and six teams competed in the national finals of the 2012 Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology on GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus, vying for a combined $500,000 in scholarship funds. The 19 student finalists earned their place in the finals after completing rigorous research in fields like biology, computer science, electrical engineering, and mathematics.

“The students in this competition are the ones who will lead us in tackling some of the most critical problems that we face, not just as a nation but as an international community as well,” President Steven Knapp said at the competition’s award ceremony.

“These are challenges in fields like renewable energy,

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biomedicine, climate change, cybersecurity—an endless list that can only be addressed with the kind of energy, imagination, and dedication that these students have already exhibited.”

Several students in GW’s School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) acted as mentors to the Siemens national finalists during the weekend of competition, while other SEAS students presented their research to the young students in fun and interactive ways in a session organized by Shahrokh Ahmadi, associate professor of electrical engineering.

Six recent SEAS alumni also participated in a panel discussion with the Siemens national finalists, discussing professional careers, their research, and their academic experiences at GW. The university will continue to host the national finals of the competition through the fall of 2013.

giving.gwu.edu

The rise in global demand for nuclear energy is heavily concentrated in emerging and aspiring Asian powers.

Studying Asia’s Nuclear Debate Elliott School professors receive MacArthur Grant.

Northrop Grumman has committed to becoming a Founding Member of the Cyber Center for National and Economic Security (CCNES) at the George Washington University. CCNES is operating as a true public-private partnership to promote understanding of cybersecurity policy issues, and to find solutions to the complex dangers that are emerging from the online ecosystem.

Two faculty members at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs received a $400,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to study the ongoing debates in Asia over the risks and rewards of nuclear energy and non-proliferation.

The rise in global demand for nuclear energy is heavily concentrated in emerging and aspiring Asian powers.

Mike Mochizuki, associate professor of political science and international affairs, and Deepa Ollapally, associate research professor of international affairs, will track the domestic debates and discussion on nuclear power and nonproliferation in eight countries in Asia—China, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The goal will be to ascertain and relate a more nuanced domestic opinion than that which is often reduced to “pro-nuclear” or “anti-nuclear” by official government pronouncements.

This project, entitled “Nuclear Debates in Asia,” is part of the second phase of the larger Rising Powers Initiative (RPI), which is housed at the Elliott School’s Sigur Center for Asian Studies and also funded in part by the MacArthur Foundation. The first phase of RPI, concluded in 2011, developed the framework to understand and analyze how major and aspiring powers think about their own national security, international economic policymaking, identity, and power and the role of the Unites States in the world.

A $55,530 grant from the Motorola Foundation to GW’s Center for Preparedness and Resilience will fund the “AllHazards Emergency Casualty Care for All Citizens and Responders” training series.

The training program will provide hands-on emergency casualty care training to 150 first responders and 15,000 citizens from underserved outlying communities surrounding the National Capital Region.

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fighting a

hidden hunger

BY Gray Turner

UU

hen was the last time you went truly hungry? How frequently, if ever, have you been

forced to sacrifice meals to keep a roof over your head? For some students at the George Washington University, the answer might be “too recently” and “too often,” but one long-time friend of the university is working to change that.

A passionate philanthropist who has been involved with GW for over 20 years, Marc C. Abrahms created the Abrahms Family Fund with gifts totaling nearly $150,000 to help students struggling with hunger. The endowment will provide emergency grants of $500 or more each academic year to GW students who need funds to purchase food.

“A meaningful percentage of Americans, of every age, have inadequate food at some point during the year,” says Mr. Abrahms. “Sadly, more than 25 million Americans are in need of private charitable food assistance. Hunger doesn’t give you a break just because you’re a college student.”

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The fight against hunger is not a new one for Mr. Abrahms; he has been helping those suffering from hunger near his home in Hartford, Connecticut, by cooking and serving over 42,000 meals since 2010. Much of the food he prepares feeds students after school. He says that the difference in the outlook and scholastic performance of a well-fed student is palpably higher compared to those that struggle to find their next meal.

“Students who are hungry cannot learn at their maximum potential,” Mr. Abrahms says. “The circumstances for a person, especially a young person trying to get an education, can change

suddenly. College students can quickly find themselves in a precarious situation when a parent or family member helping to fund their education is unexpectedly jobless. All of a sudden they’re without food and core resources.”

Rising tuition costs and a tough economy present new challenges for many college students and their families as college bills come in, leading to a little-known but growing population of financially stressed students who are facing hunger.

“Hunger on [a college] campus is part of a lingering national problem that grew after the financial crisis that began in late 2007,” reads a 2012 article from Inside Higher Ed, a daily publication focusing on higher education topics. “In an unforgiving economy, many students across the country struggle not only to pay tuition but also to buy food.”

While the full extent of college student hunger nationally may be hard to capture, locally-conducted research speaks volumes to the level of need. A study conducted by faculty at the City University of New York system in 2010 found that 39 percent of surveyed students had either skipped meals, gone hungry for lack of money, or been unable to afford balanced meals in the last year.

MD ’74, were both GW graduates, but his personal relationship with the university didn’t blossom until President Emeritus Stephen Joel Trachtenberg took the university’s highest office in 1988.

“I knew Stephen from his time as president at the University of Hartford,” he says. “He helped GW make great strides towards becoming the university it is today, a destination location and one of the best institutions of higher education in the world. I wanted to be a part of that experience; be a part of what it is being done at George Washington.”

“Most people might not realize what a problem hunger can be on a college campus. This fund was created to help the young people at the George Washington University who are too often forced to face this issue on their own.”

- Marc C. Abrahms

Washington, DC, like New York City, ranks among the top ten U.S. cities with the highest cost of living in 2013, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research. With tuition and the high cost of housing as often the first priorities for students, meals are too often sacrificed. When Mr. Abrahms, understanding this dilemma, decided to create a fund to help college students with a food need, the George Washington University was a logical choice.

Marc Abrahms is no stranger to GW. His late mother, Phyllis Blumenthal Abrahms, AA ’39, BA ’41, and brother, Eliot Abrahms,

An ardent supporter of GW since 1990, Mr. Abrahms served on the GW Medical Center Advisory Council from 1993–1996 and has helped to fund several initiatives at the university−including the Marc C. Abrahms Great Hall in the Marvin Center, GW’s campus community center in Foggy Bottom, in honor of his late parents and brother. The Abrahms Family Fund is another step in his commitment to the mission and students of the George Washington University.

“Most people might not realize what a problem hunger can be on a college campus,” says Mr. Abrahms. “This fund was created to help the young people at the George Washington University who are too often forced to face this issue on their own.”

Mr. Abrahms has committed to ensuring that the Abrahms Family Fund will continue to support GW students in need well past his lifetime by establishing a charitable remainder trust, which will substantially support this special fund after his death.

“I’m involved in a number of philanthropic endeavors, but GW has a unique spot in my heart,” he says. “It’s a world with a lot of needs that we live in, but my hope is that the students who benefit from this fund will go out and have an impact on the world and do their best to improve it.”

In 2010, a friend

told Marc Abrahms about the amazing things being done to feed the hungry at House of Bread in Hartford, Connecticut. His first day there he met a man and his young son standing in line for the only available meal of the day. It was a frigid winter day with temperatures in the single digits, and the father and son shared a single glove between them.

“He had a house and a job, but lost it all,” Mr. Abrahms remembers. “So many people are affected by circumstances beyond their control. I felt moved to volunteer and help out and do whatever I could to help.”

He has been cooking meals at his home and delivering them to House of Bread ever since. His specialties include beef stew and a meat sauce for pasta that he slow cooks for 14 hours. The homestyle meals, which Mr. Abrahms makes from only fresh herbs and other ingredients, are a big hit among the people who frequent House of Bread.

“The workers and volunteers recognize me as ‘meat sauce man’ now,” he laughs. “But I’m still not doing as good a job as needs to be done. The number of hungry people is extraordinary, and truly sad.”

Mr. Abrahms adds that many people volunteer to help but never follow through with their commitment and that despite their best intentions, one day of service doesn’t scratch the surface of fixing the problem of hunger. “We can do better,” he says.

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The Student Experience GW Business Plan Competition Turns 5

GWSB

Competition for GW students continues to foster entrepreneurship in its fifth year.

Dylan Fox, BBA ‘13, of Crowdvance presents to judges and audience members at the 2012 GW Business Plan Competition.

A great business idea can come at any moment. That is the main notion behind the George Washington University’s annual Business Plan Competition. Launched in 2009 thanks to a generous grant from entrepreneur and Florida Gov. Richard Scott and wife, Annette – whose daughter Allison Guimard, BBA ’05 is also an entrepreneur – the competition provides students at the university with the opportunity to compete for startup capital and receive mentorship and feedback from real business professionals.

The GW Business Plan Competition, which celebrated its fifth birthday this year, was created to give students, faculty, and alumni a real world experiential learning opportunity in entrepreneurship. Over the course of several months of competition, participants refine their presentations with the help of mentors and attend workshops, networking events, and guest lectures. The number of teams competing has risen to 109 teams from all 12 schools at George Washington in 2013.

“The experience and support we gained through the GW Business Plan Competition has unquestionably helped us achieve the level of success we’ve attained so far.”

- Dylan Fox

Previous GW Business Plan Competition winners

The stakes are higher for competitors as well, with $60,000 in cash prize money and $30,000 in legal, financial, consulting, and related services up for grabs for the winning teams. Two new cash prizes were available for finalists in 2013 as well: a cash prize for the best sustainable technology idea and an AARP Foundation prize for a business plan focused on needs of low-income seniors. Another major benefit of the competition is the experience it gives GW’s entrepreneurs.

Crowdvance, which placed third at the 2012 GW Business Plan Competition, travelled to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete in TCU’s Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition in April. Led by Dylan Fox, BBA ’13, the team took first place and beat out 27 other universities from the U.S. and five other countries at the international entrepreneurship competition. An online platform that helps small organizations raise funds, Crowdvance has already assisted hundreds of non-profits, charities, and other groups raise money for their causes.

“Our win in Fort Worth is a great testament to the sophisticated level of entrepreneurship present here at GW, especially at the undergraduate level,” says Fox. “The experience and support we gained through the GW Business Plan Competition has unquestionably helped us achieve the level of success we’ve attained so far.”

The 2013 competition concluded on April 19 when medical resident Adam Corman and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Neal Sikka took home first prize with SonoStik – a company that offers improved patient care when using emergency ultrasound technology.

“The GW Business Plan Competition aims to foster an entrepreneurial climate at GW,” says John Rollins, who founded the competition and has served as its director since its inception. “The last five years have brought great success to this competition and its competitors; I look forward to what lies ahead with great anticipation.”

More information on the GW Business Plan Competition and presentations by finalists can be found at, http://gwbizplan.com.

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Keen Guides

HealthEworks

Lead Driver

Wise Agg

Winner of the inaugural Business Plan Competition, Keen Guides offers a downloadable tour guide for persons with disabilities.

HealthEworks is a service that customizes and improves health education for patients who are in urgent-care situations.

Lead Driver allows car dealers to provide brochures tailored to customer preferences by entering unique information about the customers and their needs.

Described as “Google for analysts,” WiseAgg collects and analyzes large amounts of data from web sources not normally crawled by generic search engines.

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giving.gwu.edu

A Home for The Hatchet

Hatchet

With the help and support of alumni and friends, one of the country’s most decorated student-run college newspapers will soon have a new home. The GW Hatchet recently purchased a townhouse on the university’s Foggy Bottom Campus thanks to the nearly $300,000 raised by Home for The Hatchet, the nonprofit organization responsible for finding GW’s student newspaper a new residence.

An artist’s rendering of The Hatchet’s new home at 2148 F Street, NW.

Located at 2148 F St NW, The Hatchet’s new home will be renovated into a modernized headquarters with double the space of its old office. Home for The Hatchet is leading the $2 million fundraising campaign that, in addition to providing the initial finances to buy the townhouse, will raise money to pay for the building’s renovations.

“When finished, the townhouse will provide a 21st century home for a 21st century newspaper,” says Ken Chaletzky, BBA ’71, a Hatchet alum and member of Home for the Hatchet’s board of directors. “The Hatchet’s staff has grown to adapt to the changes

in media and news reporting, and the facilities and resources available to these student journalists must be equal to the quality of their work.”

Once renovated, the new building will be handicap accessible, provide spacious offices for each unit of the newspaper’s staff, contain a kitchen and lounge as well as a conference room in the basement to hold events and educational training for student journalists. Naming opportunities for donors are available for several rooms as well as the entire building.

A contractor for the project has been selected, and work on the townhouse will soon be underway, with plans to move into the renovated building before the end of the year. Founded in 1904, The Hatchet is the second-oldest continuously-published newspaper in Washington, DC. For more information on how to support Home for The Hatchet, please visit www.homeforthehatchet.org.

Supporting champions in the Classroom, in the Community, and in Competition.

Join the Buff & Blue Fund today and support GW student-athletes!

202.994.8412 • http://go.gwu.edu/givetoathletics

DAR1744

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Power & Promi s e Making History Microsite allows GW community to share their stories in new forum.

“The Carlos Slim Foundation Scholars Program embodies Mr. Slim’s commitment to empowering Mexican youth through education.”

-President Steven Knapp.

With an older sister already in college and another sister just a few years younger than him, Will Alexander, BS ’04, MBA ’06, was concerned about how his family was going to be able to pay for the college education of all three children. That all changed in the spring of 2000 when the soon-to-be GW freshman was awarded a coveted Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship— the four-year, full-ride scholarship awarded annually to outstanding graduates of Washington, DC, high schools preparing to attend George Washington.

“The Trachtenberg Scholarship was a game changer for me,” says Will, who went on to earn two degrees, make lifelong friends, and meet his future wife during his time at George Washington.

Will’s story is just one of dozens of GW student, alumni, and faculty stories on the George Washington University’s “Making History” microsite. Launched last summer in coordination with the university’s new branding campaign, the site allows members of the GW community to discuss why they came to the university, share “only at GW moments,” and recount how the people and events at George Washington have had an impact on their lives.

See how members of the GW community are Making History, or share your story by visiting, http://makinghistory.gwu.edu.

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A recipient of the George Washington University President’s Medal in 2009 and an honorary degree in 2012, philanthropist Carlos Slim is funding a new scholars program at GW.

Fostering Mexican Leaders Carlos Slim funded graduate scholarship brings international students to GW. International businessman and philanthropic leader Carlos Slim, HON ’12, is funding full-tuition scholarships for George Washington University graduate students studying engineering, business, and international affairs. The Carlos Slim Foundation Scholars Program, a partnership between the Fundacion Carlos Slim and GW, will recruit five graduates from Mexican universities.

The program provides students with practical experiences to help them understand the significance of leadership and communication. The program also connects students to international economic institutions and influential political and thought leaders while allowing hands-on learning through summer internships, travel opportunities, and cultural enriching studies.

“The Carlos Slim Foundation Scholars Program embodies Mr. Slim’s commitment to empowering Mexican youth through education,” said President Steven Knapp. “It will offer these future leaders a unique opportunity to combine rigorous graduate studies with direct exposure to government and business in the heart of this nation’s capital.”

Carlos Slim Foundation Scholars are selected from students who have applied for admission to a graduate program in the School of Business, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, or the Elliott School of International Affairs. The recipients must be graduates of a Mexican university, and selection will be based on their undergraduate academic achievement and leadership experience.

Each scholar is paired with an academic adviser who will help guide their educational experience and a mentor to oversee their practical experience. Students also will gain intensive leadership training and participate in team-building activities.

Mr. Slim’s extensive philanthropic work through his foundations has included investments in education, health, and fine arts. Mr. Slim was awarded the George Washington University President’s Medal in 2009 and received an honorary doctorate degree in 2012.

giving.gwu.edu

New Scholarship for School of Nursing Family honors SON founding senior associate dean with named scholarship.

Ellen Dawson (center) poses with her children Michael and Maureen, her sister Trish Dixon, and her husband Pat Dawson at a celebration honoring her service to the School of Nursing in June of 2012.

A pivotal driving force behind GW’s School of Nursing will be remembered through an endowed scholarship at the school she helped found. The Dr. Ellen M. Dawson Scholarship was established by a $100,000 gift from her husband, Pat, and their children Maureen and Michael to honor Dr. Dawson’s contributions to the School of Nursing. The gift provides tuition support to one or more outstanding students with unmet financial need who are enrolled in the school’s ADN-BSN/MSN program‘s family nurse practitioner or nurse-midwifery field of study.

“Dr. Dawson’s knowledge of her field and leadership skills were invaluable to us in establishing the School of Nursing,” says GW Provost Steven Lerman. “This gift is an exceptional way to honor her deep commitment to the nursing profession and to excellence in patient care.”

Class of 2013

Dr. Dawson began her service to GW in 2005 as associate professor and the only chair of the Department of Nursing Education. She became the founding senior associate dean of SON when it became an independent school in 2010. Dr. Dawson retired in June 2012 as senior associate dean of academic affairs, and continues to serve as a tenured professor and principal investigator for one of SON’s major grant projects.

“Dr. Dawson is a very special person who brought to GW leadership, creativity, and the heart of nursing,” says Dean Jean Johnson, who worked very closely with Dr. Dawson. “She is dedicated to our profession and has been a major force for excellence in nursing practice and education. The gift to the School is an example of her commitment and her entire family’s remarkable generosity.”

Leading the Class Seniors set new class giving record.

Chris Kim and Julia Simon led this year’s Senior Class Gift Campaign.

At first glance, Chris Kim and Julia Simon don’t seem to have much in common. Chris, CCAS ’13, is originally from Fullerton, CA, studied economics, and held the title of co-captain of Capital Funk, GW’s premier hip-hop performance dance group. Julia, ESIA ’13, is from New York, NY, studied international affairs, and spent a year abroad at GW’s center in Madrid. But the two came together their senior year to lead the Senior Class Gift Committee and encourage their fellow classmates to give back.

“In this role, I contribute to the university’s growth, motivate, and excite the senior class, and share their love and joy for the institution that has carried us through a pivotal four years,” noted Chris. “In a world where higher education institutions are constantly competing, it is important to acknowledge the significance of fund raising to maintain and advance GW’s national prominence.”

The 2013 Senior Class Gift Committee comprised of more than 40 seniors, representing all undergraduate schools and nearly 100 different student organizations on campus. This year, GW

Board of Trustees Chairman Nelson Carbonell, SEAS ’85, and his wife, Michele, again challenged the class to reach new heights in participation in the campaign. The Class of 2013 achieved 54% class participation, surpassing the Class of 2012’s record of 50% participation, earning a $51,000 gift to the Power & Promise Fund for Scholarships and Student Aid in honor of their class from the Carbonells. The Class of 2013 raised more than $88,500 total.

“Three out of five students receive financial aid here at GW, and I am one of those students,” added Julia. “Since GW offered me the opportunity to receive a world-class education both in and out of the classroom, I love encouraging my peers to give back to this school.”

Seniors could donate to any part of the university, as the campaign was built around the idea that every student has experienced unique GW moments that have defined their individual experiences here. Seniors were encouraged to give back to the parts of the university that made those moments possible.

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Power & Promi s e Connecting Donors and Students Annual Power & Promise event honors supporters and celebrates student recipients.

“By providing me with the opportunity to follow my passion— something I once thought I could never afford to do—the Elsie M. Carper Scholarship Fund makes a difference in my life every day.”

P&P Dinner

-Morgan Viehman, SMPA ‘14

Scholarship recipient Morgan Viehman speaks on the importance of financial aid to help students achieve their dreams.

David Berg, BA ’68, and his wife, Diane, often receive bios of students who receive support from the David W. Berg Scholarship Fund. But at the April 25 Power & Promise Dinner, they were able to connect face-to-face with one of the beneficiaries of their generosity when they enjoyed dinner alongside junior Amzaray Ahmed.

“My scholarship is to promote civil engineering students, and here he is!” Mr. Berg, a civil engineer himself, said gesturing toward Mr. Ahmed. “We’ve never met a student we’ve supported, so tonight’s been fantastic.”

Mr. Berg and Ahmed weren’t the only pair who had a chance to meet—this year’s event brought together more than 350 students, staff, trustees, and donors in an intimate reception and dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC.

Want to know more about the impact of the GW Power & Promise Fund? Watch the new video here: go.gwu.edu/2013video

Connecting students and university donors is an important part of Power & Promise, an initiative that’s raised more than $64 million in donor scholarship and fellowship funds since its inception in 2009.

The GW Power & Promise Fund enables students to take advantage of a GW education, no matter their financial situations. The initiative helped increase need- and merit-based student aid to $160 million in 2012.

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The celebration featured jazz performances by freshman Samantha Law, accompanied by freshman Nathan Basch on piano, and the debut of the new Power & Promise video, which outlined the experience of some students who received support from the Power & Promise Fund this year. Featured speaker Ambassador Edward W. “Skip” Gnehm Jr., BA ’66, MA ’68, illustrated the complete journey of a student becoming a working professional thanks to scholarship funds.

“I dreamed for years that I would come here, but I had no idea how that would happen,” Amb. Gnehm said.

“It would not have been possible if I had not been a recipient of the Scottish Rite scholarship.”

Junior Morgan Viehman spoke about how support from the Elsie M. Carper Scholarship Fund has helped her achieve her dream of studying journalism.

“By providing me with the opportunity to follow my passion—something I once thought I could never afford to do—the Elsie M. Carper Scholarship Fund makes a difference in my life every day,” Viehman said. “If I could say anything to the amazing donors who have contributed to GW’s Power & Promise Fund, it would be this: Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, you have to know what it means to me and all the students like me who wouldn’t be here without your help.”

For more information on how you can support the GW Power & Promise Fund for student aid, contact Matt Banks at mbanks@gwu.edu or 202-994-5125.

giving.gwu.edu

Raising High GW Student aid fund tops GW High5 Challenge.

Five GW initiatives received gifts totaling more than $74,000 this spring thanks to the GW High5 challenge, an innovative new campaign that encouraged GW students and alumni to vote for and support their favorite university programs and initiatives. GW Trustee Steve Ross, BBA ’81, donated $39,000 to fund the High5 challenge, which ran from April 1 to May 10.

From April 22 to May 10, each member of the GW community who made a gift to the five finalists counted as a vote of support. The Power & Promise Fund was named the winner of the GW High5 challenge and received $20,000 for having the most donors. The remaining $19,000 from Mr. Ross’s commitment was split among the other finalists. On top of Mr. Ross’ commitment, gifts from the GW community to the High5 finalists totaled more than $35,000.

Each of the 23 participating initiatives had a student, faculty, or staff champion to help rally support for their cause. Scholarship recipient Maddison Bruer, class of 2015, served as the champion for Power & Promise.

“The one thing that inspired me most in reaching out was the positive reaction of students,” said Bruer. “I tried to educate people about the power of philanthropy and student aid. The bottom line is I wouldn’t be at GW without it.”

“One of my personal interests is to be a seed planter…to excite people, keep the momentum going and increase GW’s shareholder rate.”

-Steve Ross, BBA ‘81, GW Trustee

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2. GW Libraries

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3. Career Services

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4. Student Organizations

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5. Study Abroad

Club sports

More than 6,500 members of the GW community voted for their “High 5” from a group of 23 university programs and initiatives between April 1 and April 15. Career services, GW Libraries, the GW Power & Promise for Student Aid, student organizations, and study abroad emerged as the five finalists.

Greek life

Mr. Ross supported the High5 challenge in honor of J. Wendell Crain, LLB ‘56, who encouraged Mr. Ross to become more involved with GW as a volunteer in 1986, starting a two-decade friendship. The pair served on the GW School of Business Board of Advisors together from 1998 until Mr. Crain passed away in 2006.

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1. Power & Promise Fund (Student Aid)

student life

“One of my personal interests is to be a seed planter…to excite people, keep the momentum going and increase GW’s shareholder rate,” said Mr. Ross, who equates donating to his alma mater with an investment.

GW High5 Finalists

$20,000 in challenge funding will allow a qualified student to come to GW who otherwise might not be able to.

$10,000 in challenge funding will purchase software to help faculty and student researchers.

$5,000 in challenge funding will go to the Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund, providing up to five students with financial support that allows them the freedom to pursue unpaid internships.

$3,000 in challenge funding will support the Robert A. Chernak Opportunity Fund for Student Engagement, expanding the diverse efforts and interests of students and groups to pursue opportunities in student life.

$1,000 in challenge funding will go toward study abroad scholarship offerings.

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GW N ews Heritage Society Spring Luncheon On May 8, more than 100 guests gathered at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC, for the annual Heritage Society Luncheon. The Heritage Society honors alumni and friends of GW who have included the university in their estate plans. Attendees included (from left to right) Merry Adler, BA ’82, MA ’83, GSEHD; Marjorie Weingold; Dr. Laura Violand, Director of Development, SMHS; and Dr. Allan Weingold, HON ’98, Vice President Emeritus for Medical Affairs.

New Trusteefunded program

Former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission officials, including Mary Schapiro, JD ’80 (center), discuss the importance of having women on corporate boards at the On the Board launch event.

“On the Board”

New trustee-funded program will train women to serve on corporate leadership boards.

On February 21, the George Washington University introduced its inaugural class of 15 fellows to “On the Board,” a first-of-its-kind program that works to train and place top female executives on governing boards at leading companies around the world. The daylong event featured panelists and speakers, including experts from Fortune 500 corporate boards, global stock exchanges, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Watch the launch event here: go.gwu.edu/ ontheboard

The session included leaders from all over the world joining via webcast addressing the relationship between gender diversity and company performance; the social, economic, and cultural changes corporations are undergoing; and a panel of former SEC officials, including Mary Schapiro, JD ’80, who discussed managing governance problems and building the qualifications to serve on a board.

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Fellows will meet two more times this year, in July and again in November, and will receive training and development sessions from experts on corporate strategy, crisis management, audit effectiveness, risk assessment, investor and market relations, corporate finance, leadership communication, and regulatory compliance. The “On the Board” program was made possible by a generous donation from GW Board of Trustees member Linda Rabbitt, MA ’72.

“I see this as a great moment of opportunity, an inflection point, a time to act,” said Ms. Rabbitt.

“As a trustee, I can proudly say that the university has a goal to be nothing less than the most admired and respected university in the world. We don’t simply study global issues; we help address and resolve them.”

giving.gwu.edu

Van Toffler, BA ’80, and SMPA’s Frank Sesno held a lively discussion during a March 6 EMMA event in New York City.

Fungers Awarded President’s Medal Norma Lee and Morton Funger, AA ’52, BA ’53, were presented the George Washington University President’s Medal by GW President Steven Knapp in a special ceremony held this May. The President’s Medal recognizes individuals who have exhibited courage, character, and leadership in their chosen fields and who exemplify the ability of all human beings to improve the lives of others.

“Your abiding love of more than 60 years is not held selfishly,” President Knapp read from the official award citation. “It spills over endlessly to your family and friends, worthy institutions and causes, and grateful citizens.”

Behind the Scenes at MTV with Van Toffler, BA ’80 Van Toffler, BA ’80 spoke candidly of the infamous Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show and his time with MTV on March 6 at The Times Center in New York City. Toffler, president of Viacom’s Music & Logo Group, spent time as a lawyer (during which he represented Michael Jackson’s copyright purchase of the Beatles’ collection of music) before working his way up the ladder of MTV, pioneering TV shows, music shows, movies, and social programming.

Native Washingtonians and dedicated philanthropists, the Fungers are longtime supporters of the George Washington University. Their ongoing support for GW includes the renovation of the Norma Lee and Morton I. Funger Hall (named in 1986) and the W. Scott Funger Memorial Scholarship, named in memory of their son, Scott Funger, JD ’83, who passed away in 2012. Morton Funger also served as a member of GW’s Board of Trustees from 1987 through 2005, when he was named an emeritus trustee.

After an introduction from George Washington President Steven Knapp, Toffler shared the story of his winding career path from Foggy Bottom to MTV’s doorstep during an onstage conversation with Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs. GW empowered Toffler to test limits and rules and to challenge the accepted norms, which he continues to do every day in his work. “When I stop pushing the boundaries, they should kick me out,” he said.

Toffler was invited to speak to more than 250 members of the GW community during Behind the Scenes, the inaugural event of the Luther Rice Society’s Entertainment, Media & Marketing Alliance (EMMA), a career-focused group that engages the GW community in New York by offering philanthropic opportunities, mentorship connections, and targeted networking.

“This event showed me that the GW community is large and vibrant in NYC–I’m excited to know about EMMA’s presence here,” said Meredith Collins, BA ’89. “I learned a lot from Van’s talk about perspectives from the artists’ side. This event is a good impetus to get more involved; it got me excited about EMMA.”

ONLY at GW

President Knapp, Norma Lee Funger, Morton Funger, AA ’52, BA ’53, and Diane Robinson Knapp take a moment to pose after the Fungers were awarded the George Washington University President’s Medal this spring.

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GW N ews Trustee Endows Lecture for Business Students A new lecture on civility and honor will serve as a capstone to the annual “Honorlloquium” for first-year students in GW’s School of Business (GWSB). Endowed by a $300,000 gift from Board of Trustee member Richard Blackburn, JD ’67, the Richard Blackburn Endowed Lecture on Civility and Integrity will invite a keynote speaker each year to speak on themes related to the importance of civility in business discourse and integrity in business conduct. This annual lecture will be incorporated as the signature event for the undergraduate GWSB First Year Development Program (FYDP).

“The Richard Blackburn Endowed Lecture will become an essential part of the business student experience here at GW,” says GWSB Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou. “His generosity and foresight in creating this important lecture will have a lasting impact on School of Business students for years to come.”

In addition to the endowed lecture, the Richard Blackburn Endowed Lecture on Civility and Integrity will include a special ceremony that will be part of the annual “Honorlloquium” where GWSB students pledge the GW School of Business Honor Code at the conclusion of their first semester of the FYDP. All first-year students enrolled at the School of Business participate in this required program, which includes classwork on Academic Integrity and Ethics, Business Communications, Ethical Issues in Business, and focus on individual strength assessments, self-reflections, career development, making presentations, and what it means to be a GWSB student.

“The Richard Blackburn Endowed Lecture will become an essential part of the business student experience here at GW.” - GWSB Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou.

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Artist’s rendering of the new museum at GW, which will open in fall 2014.

University Museum Names Director, Begins Construction Earlier this spring, John Wetenhall was announced as director of the new George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum.

Bringing more than 20 years of experience in museum executive leadership roles, he will lead development of the forthcoming university museum as well as transition of The Textile Museum to GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus in fall 2014. Dr. Wetenhall, who began his tenure on June 1, will also hold the appointment of associate professor of museum studies.

“John Wetenhall will take the lead in shaping a new kind of museum for GW,” said GW Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Steven Lerman. “This is a one-of-a-kind partnership, and we are confident that he will create a cultural destination that will be a leader in academic and cultural communities in DC and around the world.”

Opening in fall 2014, the new museum at GW will include dedicated galleries and increased exhibition space for The Textile Museum and the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection. Exhibitions and programs will be presented to the public and will involve GW faculty and students in academic collaborations.

Construction is currently under way on the museum’s custom-built facility at G and 21st streets, NW. The university is also in the process of building a 22,000-square-foot conservation and collections resource center on its Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Loudoun County. The center will be a dedicated space for the study and care of the museum’s collections.

For more information, please visit www.gwu.edu/museum.

giving.gwu.edu

International Exchange Program Established at GW $1 million gift from Dr. Joong Keun Lee will fund a research exchange program with Seoul National University.

The Dr. Joong Keun Lee, George Washington University, and Seoul National University Endowment was established earlier this spring thanks to a $1 million gift from Dr. Joong Keun Lee, founder and chairman of Booyoung Group in Korea. This new endowment will launch a new exchange program between GW and Seoul National University. The exchange program will allow graduate students and faculty to explore research in new applications of ondol, or underfloor heating, technology.

Through a second agreement with Chairman Lee, GW has also committed to exploring the possibility of developing a new residence hall that incorporates ondol technology for students studying at the Virginia Science and Technology Campus. Ondol has been utilized by Koreans for thousands of years and has been said to promote a healthy housing culture with an energy-efficient and ecofriendly environment.

Chairman Lee, Seoul National University President Yeon-Cheon Oh, and GW President Steven Knapp signed the agreement at a special ceremony this spring.

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Dr. Joong Keun Lee, founder and chairman of Booyoung Group, President Steven Knapp and Seoul National University (SNU) President Yeon-Cheon shake hands over an agreement to establish a student-exchange program with SNU to research ondol technology.

“Chairman Lee’s commitment to fostering education between our two universities furthers our commitment to globalization and innovation,” said Dr. Knapp. “His gift simultaneously creates our partnership with Seoul National University while giving us the opportunity to explore this very important technology.”

The Winter 2012 issue of GW Impact now available online! http://issuu. com/gwimpact-winter-2012 Because of donors like you, #GWU students can study and change the world! Please give today: http://go.gwu.edu/give2gw

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#GWBaseball plays first home series of season at renovated Barcroft Park thanks in part to support by donors!

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Alumni: Participate in the March Annual Giving Challenge! Help raise $100K

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Violinist Miranda Cuckson performs tonight in #MortonAuditorium thanks to

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by March 31. #CCAS, #GWU

alumni gift. Learn more http://bit.ly/AlumHonorsFather

Congrats @GWSeniors2012 for record SrClsGft giving and participation.

Enjoy this weekend’s commencement activities and welcome to @ GWAlumni

Follow us and/or share your #GWImpact stories

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@gwhatchet Great story on fundraising for #SEH in today’s edition!http:// bit.ly/GWHatchetSEHFundraising … @GW_WomensRowing starting a ‘Revolution’ with its 2nd new boat just christened. Thx to our donors for their support! @GWSeniors2012 on track to reach 50% participation in Sr. Class Gift Campaign @gwhatchet http://bit.ly/GWHatchetSrsOnTrack … Let’s go Seniors! #givetoGW

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Check out Jewish Literature Live w/ author Erica Jong tonight at 7pmhttp:// bit.ly/JLLive made possible by #gifts2GW @gwucolumbian G W I m pac t | S p r i n g 2 013 | 21

@GWSBalumni Congrats on rising to the challenge! Record alumni giving

GW N ews University Receives $4 Million from Kuwait Government The George Washington University received a $4 million gift from the government of Kuwait this spring to support the endowment of the Elliott School of International Affairs’ Institute for Middle East Studies (IMES) and the Gelman Library’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Research Center. Kuwait and His Highness Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah also made a $4.5 million gift to IMES and the MENA Research Center in February 2011.

Ambassador of Kuwait Salem Al-Sabah formally presented the gift on April 19, addressing GW President Steven Knapp and Edward W. “Skip” Gnehm Jr., BA ’66, MA ’68, a professor and director of the Middle East Policy Forum who served as the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait between 1991 and 1994. After Dr. Knapp expressed the university community’s gratitude for the gift, they discussed promoting more student and faculty exchanges in both countries.

“The George Washington University is grateful for the ongoing support of the government of Kuwait and his highness the amir,” said President Knapp. “We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Middle East through research, education and policy engagement.”

The government of Kuwait has been a strong supporter of GW’s Middle East programs. In 2005 the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences established the Kuwait Chair for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs, which is held by Amb. Gnehm Jr. In addition to financial support, the prime minister of Kuwait and other Kuwaiti officials have participated in the Middle East Policy Forum at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

Law School

Donald Kohn interviews Paul A. Volcker, former chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Law School Announces Paul A. Volcker Scholarships The George Washington University celebrated the inauguration of the Paul A. Volcker Scholarship program on May 22 with a ceremony and question-and-answer session at the Jack Morton Auditorium on GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus. Two scholarships honoring Mr. Volcker, a former chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, will be awarded to GW law students who seek to pursue public service careers in financial regulation starting next fall.

A private luncheon followed the ceremony, featuring a speech from E. Gerald Corrigan, a co-chair of the scholarship, a managing director of Goldman, Sachs & Co., and the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

“The Volcker Scholarship program is going to take an enormous step in the right direction,” said Eugene A. Ludwig, co-chair of the Volcker Scholarship fundraising effort, CEO of Promontory Financial Group, and former Comptroller of the Currency. “It’s going to give promising, enthusiastic students a chance to study regulation as a profession and put the skills they’ve learned to use in public service.”

Appointed chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System by former President Jimmy Carter, Mr. Volcker served in the federal government for nearly three decades under six presidents— most recently working for President Barack Obama as chair of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board. The scholarships set up under his name will allow GW students to follow in his footsteps.

Ambassador of Kuwait Salem Al-Sabah (right) presented a $4 million gift to President Knapp (left) and Amb. Skip Gnehm (not pictured) earlier this spring.

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To learn about how you can support GW Law and its students, please visit http://go.gwu.edu/supportlaw.

giving.gwu.edu

Students Awarded Internship Fund Grants Thirty-seven GW undergraduate and graduate students were awarded the first ever Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund (KACIF) grants by the Career Services Advisory Council this spring. Funded by philanthropic support from parents and alumni totaling $50,000, the KACIF grants provide financial support for students pursuing unpaid internships that will advance their career opportunities and build on their academic studies.

“We hope that the Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund inspires GW students to pursue necessarily unpaid internships that they might not have applied for in the past due to their financial constraints,” said Rachel Brown, council chair and assistant provost for university career services. “Our goal is to meet the need of as many of our students as we can.”

The diverse group of awardees represents 20 majors and fields of study at GW. This

year’s recipients are pursuing internships at nonprofits; local, state and federal government agencies; political campaign offices; embassies; think tanks; theaters; health centers; and more.

Due to the positive response and continued support from the university community, the Career Services Advisory Council is planning additional funding cycles for the KACIF program in fall 2013, spring 2014, and summer 2014, depending upon available funding from donors.

“The Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund and the overwhelming response to it— considering the amount of applications and financial support provided—demonstrates that the students, parents, alumni, faculty, and career services departments at GW understand the value afforded to students who explore internship experiences in their chosen fields of interest,” Ms. Brown added.

To learn more about the Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund grants, contact gwkacif@gwu.edu.

Visit http://go.gwu.edu/supportkacif to make a gift today.

you, Because is of

this

me

Because of you, I’m getting first-hand experience for my dream job: Foreign Service Officer.

My summer internship with the U.S. Mission to UN Agencies in Rome is only possible because I received a grant from the GW Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund, which provides funding to students pursuing unpaid internships.

The generosity of GW alumni, parents, and friends who support this special fund allows me to apply my education and advance my career in a real-world setting.

Please support students like me by making an annual gift today.

-Avani Singh, Class of 2015

www.gwu.edu/give2gw

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GW N ews President Steven Knapp joins colleagues from seven partner institutions to launch the National Civil War Project in late February.

GW, Partners Launch National Civil War Project George Washington University and seven partner organizations, including three other universities and four professional theater companies, launched a nationwide collaboration called the National Civil War Project in February. The project, which will generate original theatrical productions and innovative academic programming, commemorates the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War and investigates how it still reverberates in our present-day lives.

The project was originally conceived by Liz Lerman, MA ’82, a choreographer, GW alumna, and 2002 MacArthur Foundation “genius” fellow.

“Our Civil War was 150 years ago: What does it still mean? What is the aftermath?

Where is the damage? How is it absorbed?

Who does the absorbing?” Ms. Lerman said at the projects launch event in February.

“These questions are too big for the arts alone, or for academia alone. My interest is in collaborations that will allow new understandings.”

GW and DC’s Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will partner to work on three projects, including: the world premiere of “Healing Wars,” a dance piece by Ms. Lerman; “Our War,” in which 25 playwrights, including two GW students, will

represent the multiplicity of voices affected by the events of the Civil War; and an original piece by award-winning playwright Daniel Beaty.

Complete information about the National Civil War Project is available at www.civilwarproject.org.

For information on how you can support the project, please contact Bill Bartolini, billbart@gwu.edu, 202-994-3701 or Barbara Tesner, btesner@gwu.edu, 202-994-5432.

Planned Gift Will Support the Arts Marc Albert, BA ’70, JD ’73 has laid the groundwork to establish three endowed funds at GW’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences through a planned gift. Mr. Albert, who is an emeritus member of the college’s National Council for the Arts and Sciences, signed a bequest intention that will donate $2.5 million in support of theatre and art at George Washington.

Funds from Mr. Albert’s bequest will endow an annual undergraduate scholarship award to a student majoring or minoring in the theatre program, as well as an endowed fund

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to support the department of Theatre and Dance’s MainStage production season – the university’s premier student performance season.

The third endowment will maintain and steward a collection of artwork, textiles, rugs, and furniture that Mr. Albert is also donating to the university. Included in the collection are paintings, watercolors, pastels, and pencil and charcoal drawings.

“Marc’s remarkable dedication and commitment to GW and the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences as both a

volunteer and generous benefactor is much appreciated by our entire community,” said former Columbian College Dean Peg Barratt.

“His generous bequest intention will have a major impact on our theatre program and serve as a lasting legacy in advancing the arts at GW.” A dedicated alumni volunteer, Mr. Albert was a member of the Columbian College Dean’s Search Committee, has been active with the GW Law School Mentoring and Recruitment Program, and serves as a host for potential incoming GW students.

giving.gwu.edu

In Memoriam

Lloyd Elliott Former George Washington President Lloyd Elliott, HON ’89, passed away January 1 of this year at the age of 94. The 14th president of the George Washington University is remembered as a gracious and unassuming leader who consistently put students’ best interests above all else. From humble roots as a teacher from a family of educators in West Virginia, Dr. Elliott led the university for 23 years and helped transform it from a “commuter” school into a respected residential academic institution.

Serving as president from 1965 until 1988, Dr. Elliott created the Educational Opportunity Program, increased the university’s endowment from $8 million to $200 million, and emphasized the study of world affairs, leading to the renaming of GW’s School of International Affairs to the Elliott School in 1988. His achievements as the leader of GW were also recognized in 1989 when he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the university.

Dr. Elliott’s focus on educational excellence included overseeing the construction of three libraries on the Foggy Bottom Campus: the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, the Jacob Burns Law Library, and the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library. In addition to his achievements in building the university’s infrastructure, he established the faculty rank of University Professor and increased the number of endowed professorships from three to 20.

After his retirement from GW, Dr. Elliott became the first president of the National Geographic Society Education Foundation, the National Geographic Society’s educational arm. He also served as Honorary Chair of the Elliott School’s senior advisory group— originally known as the International Council and now as the Board of Advisors—for more than a decade and remained a member of board until his passing.

In addition to the time and effort he lent in advancing the university’s excellence, Dr. Elliott and his late wife, Betty, were longtime supporters of GW. The Elliotts donated more than $2.8 million in support of GW during their lifetime–much of it contributed through a bequest and several other planned gifts. Through their philanthropy, they created the Evelyn E. and Lloyd H. Elliott Fund, which supports the Gaston Sigur professorship as well as other important Elliott School programs and initiatives.

“Henri Leonard was a dear friend during our medical school years, 1978-1982. When she moved to Providence, Rhode Island, we sadly lost touch until the last few years of her life. I know she would have shared with me the belief that medical school should be possible for any one willing to put in the hard work and dedication necessary. I am sure that a scholarship like this in her memory would have really pleased her.”

— Sandra Caskie, MD ’82

Memorial Gifts If you have a family member or friend whose life has been touched by the George Washington University, we hope you’ll consider making a gift to us in honor of that person.

Providing a gift establishes a living tribute that allows you to: • Honor a loved one or yourself • Support our continuing efforts • Receive personal financial benefits from your contribution.

You may feel reluctant to condition your gift upon personal recognition. Yet allowing us to use your name or the name of a loved one can inspire philanthropy in others and further a cause that’s important to you.

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The Division of Development and Alumni Relations 2100 M Street NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20037

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE MERRIFIELD, VA PERMIT NO. 2657

Cert no. SW-COC-001551

Do You Own Property? o Do you have property that is a burden to manage? o Do you own property you don’t use anymore? o If you sell a property, will you owe significant taxes?

JU ST

GI FT ED

If so, GW can help. By donating real estate to GW, you can achieve peace of mind, create a lasting legacy in support of the university and receive financial benefits for yourself or someone else.

What’s in it for you?

Depending on the nature of your gift and your objectives, you could: • Avoid capital gains taxes on appreciated property • Eliminate the burden of maintaining and paying for the property • Provide yourself with an annual income • Continue to use the property for the remainder of your life • Reduce your estate and income taxes • Help the program of your choice GW accepts many types of property including residential and commercial property, and undeveloped land.

For more information, please contact Chase Magnuson, Director of Planned Giving for Real Estate at 202-994-4979 or chasem@gwu.edu.

The George Washington University Office of Planned Giving – Real Estate 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20037

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