A Magical Million

A Magical Million The Class of 1966 sets the bar high with a record-breaking class gift in honor of 50 years

BY ALEXIS BAUM

Six full-tuition scholarships. 625 international service experiences. 5,000 athletic uniforms. 500 study abroad scholarships. That’s what $1,000,000 does at Regis. That is what’s possible when 115 alumnae stand together to change lives.

On Friday coming into their 50th Reunion Weekend, the class of 1966 gift was $977,468—$22,532 shy of their $1 million goal and $727,468 more than their initial goal of $250,000. The total would be announced on Saturday at the AllAlumni Luncheon and the class of 1966 would be awarded first place.

But first place wasn’t enough. They were determined to hit that million-dollar mark. They had less than 24 hours to raise over $22,000.

When the class of 1966 began forming their reunion committees, the fundraising group settled on an ambitious goal of $250,000, which is $190,000 more than their 45th Reunion class gift. Well, most of them settled on it.

Then-president Jane Cronin Tedder wanted to aim higher. The members of the fundraising committee laugh with admiration as they recall the first time Tedder suggested a goal of $1 million.

“The goal started at $250,000, then it was $500,000, then $660,000,” recalls Kathy Bailey, a fundraising committee member

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REGIS COLLEGE ROLL of HONOR

who was also in charge of running the 1966 Facebook page. “Then we finally set our sights on $1 million.”

Tedder believed in her classmates and most importantly, they believed in each other. “Jane is such an inspirational leader,” says Bailey. “She had a vision and she quickly had many believers.”

As incoming class president Joan O’Leary Foley describes the synergy among the reunion committees, it’s no surprise that this team of ’66ers accomplished what they did. “It was all about recognizing our classmates’ strengths and interests and tapping into that,” says Foley. “We have a great deal of respect for each other’s talents. So all together, we made a great team.”

The whole was greater than the sum of its parts. And the gift was greater than any other in Regis Reunion history.

So did they end up reaching $1 million? You bet. On that Friday night of Reunion—which Tedder describes as “magical”—the College Hall Foyer was packed with ’66 alumnae and their guests.

Tedder stood up to share their current total, and for the first time since reuniting for their 50th celebrations, a suspenseful silence filled the room. Until someone stood up to give. And then another person. Then it was like dominos—23

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The Class of 1966 gathered for Mass in the College Hall Chapel during Reunion Weekend to receive their Golden Tower Pins and remember classmates who passed away.

alumnae made gifts totaling $22,940 to put the class over the top. Vice President of Institutional Advancement Miriam Finn Sherman ’98 says she can still feel that “moving spirit” she felt in the room that night.

They didn’t need 24 hours. That night the class of 1966 surpassed their goal of one-million dollars and became the first class to make a seven-figure gift in honor of their Reunion. Says Tedder: “We had a dream and we did it.”

But wait, there’s more: the women also earned a first-place award and set a record for participation, boasting a remarkable 82% class participation rate.

They didn’t reach $1 million because of one or two huge gifts; they reached $1

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million because nearly everyone stepped up to make it happen. The whole is greater than the sum.

The crowd of 300+ alumni and friends under the reunion tent gasped and then cheered as Sherman presented the firstplace awards to the class of 1966. “This is a game-changer,” said President Toni Hays after the announcement. “I think about how many students will reap the rewards of this funding and not only does it put a huge smile on my face, it gives me chills— knowing that alumnae have banded together to make such a significant difference in the lives of our students.”

For the committee members who worked tirelessly for months, the reward was Reunion itself. “Our Oldies party

with Elvis was my favorite part of the weekend,” says committee member Beth Healey Kossuth. “Everyone was out on the dance floor and it felt like we were in college again. Fifty years later, our connection is stronger than the day we graduated.” Her classmate Nancy Greene Barry agrees: “You only get to celebrate your 50th Reunion once in your life, and this certainly exceeded expectations.”

Fast-forward three months and 1966 is together again—this time at Nanci Ortwein’s home in Cape Cod for one of their semi-annual potluck parties. (The next one is already planned at Jo-Anna Rapp Holden’s home in December.) After casual conversation and a lot of laughter, the Reunion committees presented

Tedder with a gift to thank her for all her hard work as the class president and fundraising committee chair. “We are thankful every day for the one and only ‘you,’” a choked-up Tedder read aloud from the card her classmates gave her.

After spending some time with the women of the class of 1966, two things become abundantly clear: they love each other and they love Regis. “I think our class really had a sense that we belong and that we can do this together,” says Tedder.

“If it weren’t for Regis, we wouldn’t be together.”

In honor of their 50th Reunion, they certainly showed their love for both.

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