Power of Personal Philanthropy - Spring 2008 by VCU Development

The

Power of Personal Philanthropy Spring 2008

V i r g i n i a

www.advancement.vcu.edu

C o m m o n w e a l t h

VCU

U n i v e r s i t y

The

Power of Personal Philanthropy Spring 2008

www.advancement.vcu.edu

Inside this issue Collocation benefits VCU students, Richmond

Brandcenter’s creative space matches its mission

Renowned physician reconnects through gift

Dentistry Class of ‘57 surpasses gift-giving goal

Business alumni and friends build Ram pride

Annual consortium celebrates heartfelt campaign

Brown-Lyons Lecture keeps attendees in stitches 13 Nursing school supporters gather in the garden

‘Asking friends’ program pays off for cancer research 15 Editor: Melanie Irvin Solaimani (B.S. ’96), misolaimani@vcu.edu, (804) 828-3975 Writer: Claire Hairfield, boswellrc3@vcu.edu

Trustees, supporters and government officials gather for the dedication of Snead and East halls. Pictured from left: former Gov. George Allen, School of Engineering Foundation board member; Russell Jamison, dean, School of Engineering; Paul Rocheleau, president, School of Engineering Foundation board; Steve Markel, chair, School of Business Foundation board; Michael Sesnowitz, dean, School of Business; state Sen. Donald McEachin; and Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., VCU president.

Collocation benefits VCU students, Richmond Garima Prasai knew she wanted to attend business school. She just wasn’t sure where. Before high school graduation in 2005, she and her mother visited Virginia Commonwealth University to see what the university and the School of Business had to offer. Dean Michael Sesnowitz invited Prasai to his office where he unfurled giant blueprints of a planned new home for the School of Business and talked about the transformation that was on the horizon. “His excitement was absolutely contagious,” Prasai said. “I don’t recall if I was more struck that day by the magnitude of how cool the new business building was going to look or whether I was awed by the ‘down-to-earth’ dean, in whose office I was sitting, chatting with so casually. Maybe it was a combination of the two, but I remember going home and thinking ‘VCU is it,’” Now as a junior pursuing a double major in accounting and finance on the CPA track, Prasai is thrilled by what VCU has accomplished. The Monroe Park Campus Addition, where Snead Hall for the School of Business, East Hall for the School of Engineering and the VCU Brandcenter are located, opened in January. “On the first day of classes, I walked in and was blown away not only by how beautiful the building was, but how technologically advanced the study rooms were,” she said. “It’s amazing how a new facility can make all the difference. People are so much more focused and serious about their classes. The openness of the learning environment allows students to see one another studying, and it has created a peer-motivating learning environment and has led to a greater exchange of ideas.” That type of collaboration spurred the development of the Monroe Park Campus Addition and the collocation of the schools of Business and Engineering. The idea originated over a golf game between business and community leaders Steve Markel and Bill Goodwin. They envisioned business and engineering students learning side-by-side to create well-rounded graduates ready to play a pivotal role in the Richmond workforce. “The combination of a new campus for VCU and redeveloping a large part of the city as well as bringing business and engineering together really made the project a winner,” said Markel, who is the chairman of the School of Business Foundation Board of Trustees and vice chairman of the Markel Corp.

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Collocation,

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When Markel served on the VCU Board of Visitors, he said, the group struggled with crafting a workable plan to improve the business school facilities. “Until this plan came together, none of the others got any traction,” he said. “A key part of the new business school plan was the creation of a School of Business Foundation to bring an important group of supporters together to seriously engage with VCU to help develop the VCU School of Business for the long-term future.” The School of Engineering Foundation Board of Trustees collaborated with the business board to work toward a common goal. Both boards, which are composed of some of the top business leaders in the area, were instrumental in raising awareness and money for the project, said Peter L. Wyeth, vice president for University Advancement. “These board members fostered unbelievable support for this project, as well as long-term championship of the two schools among local businesses, the community, and our alumni and friends through their dedication and hard work,” he said. Paul Rocheleau, a founding member of the School of Engineering Foundation board of trustees and its current president, also stressed the board members’ role in supTop: Trustee S. Buford Scott and his wife, Susie, chat with porting the school by helping to Board of Visitors member Tom Snead. Bottom: VCU President ensure that it runs efficiently and Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., and VCU Rector Tom Rosenthal hold effectively while producing outresolutions designating July 1 as VCU Day. State Sen. Donald McEachin presented them at the April 9 dedication. standing graduates, which will benefit, in turn, the community. “As you can imagine, many of the foundation executive committee members have dedicated a lot of time to ensure the program has grown to the level it is today,” said Rocheleau, who is managing director for Cary Street Partners and is responsible for investing the foundation’s endowment. “We are now in a wonderful position to have excellent facilities, an established accredited program and improving financial resources.” The board, Rocheleau said, wants this growth — in the quality of new students, faculty and programming — to continue. “We are very encouraged by the attractive prospects for new graduates, increased student applications for 2009 and continued corporate support for the program,” he said. “The new building represents another key milestone along a path to success, but most importantly the success will be driven by the faculty and students who occupy the new building.” The students, for their part, are ripe for the challenge. “The most exciting thing about the building is the change in itself. The change has created a momentum of students who are excited about learning,” Prasai said. “What this has given me, and every other student at VCU, is a chance to highlight our best efforts. This building stands as a belief in our potential success, and we will work hard to reciprocate and make everyone proud.” To support the School of Business, contact Ken Blaisdell, executive director of the School of Business Foundation, at (804) 828-1487 or kcblaisdell@vcu.edu. To support the School of Engineering, contact Brian Thomas, vice president of the School of Engineering Foundation, at (804) 827-0067 or bsthomas@vcu.edu. 4 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

Schools of Engineering and Business Foundation Boards of Trustees School of Engineering Foundation Board of Trustees Chair: William H. Goodwin Jr., chairman, CCA Industries Inc. Vice Chair: Bruce C. Gottwald, chairman, Newmarket Corp. President: Paul F. Rocheleau, managing director, Cary Street Partners George F. Allen, former U.S. senator and former Virginia governor Henry S. Becker, president, Qimonda North America Edward H. Bersoff, Ph.D., chairman, Greenwich Associates LLC James C. Cherry, retired chairman Mid-Atlantic Region, Wachovia Bank N.A. Bradford A. Crosby (B.S. ’01/E), supervisor, 300mm Tools Group, Qimonda North America Clifford A. Cutchins IV, partner, McGuireWoods LLP Marguerite Davis, owner, The Davis Collection Thomas D. Eilerson, president, EDC Joseph C. Farrell, retired chairman, CEO and president, Brink’s Co. Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and CEO, Dominion C.T. Hill, chairman, president and CEO, SunTrust Bank Mid-Atlantic Wayne L. Hunter, managing partner, Harbert Venture Partners Arthur D. Hurtado, chairman and CEO, Invertix Corp. Hugh A. Joyce, president, James River Heating and Air Conditioning Co. Inc. John A. Luke Jr., chairman, president and CEO, MeadWestvaco Corp. Charles H. Neal, president, Symbol Mattress Wayne K. Nesbit, senior vice president of operations, Mindspeed Technologies Inc. Stanley F. Pauley, chairman and CEO, Carpenter Co. Mary E. Perkinson (B.F.A.’91/A; B.S.’03/E), plant engineer, Northrop Grumman Richard E. Posey, retired president and CEO, Moen Inc. E. Bryson Powell, president, Midlothian Enterprises Inc. Roderick H. Powell, retired chairman, Invensys Climate Controls Anne J.G. Rhodes, community leader Robert E. Rigsby (M.S.’75/B; M.B.A.’81/B), retired president and COO, Dominion Walter S. Robertson III, president and CEO, Scott & Stringfellow Inc. Thomas J. Seifert, COO, Qimonda AG Richard L. Sharp, managing director, V10 Capital Partners John Sherman Jr., retired vice chairman, Scott & Stringfellow Inc.

Nancy C. Everett (B.S. ’78/B), president and CEO, General Motors Asset Management Charles H. Foster Jr., retired chairman emeritus, LandAmerica Financial Group Michael D. Fraizer, chairman, president and CEO, Genworth Financial Mark M. Gambill, managing director, Cary Street Partners William M. Ginther (B.S. ’69/B; M.S. ’74/B), retired corporate executive vice president, SunTrust Brenton S. Halsey, retired chairman and CEO, James River Corp. A. William Hamill, president, H3 Emeriti trustees Companies LLC William W. Berry, retired chairman Eva S. Hardy, executive vice president, and retired president, Dominion Dominion William S. Cooper, former president Robert E. Henley (B.S. ’71/B), retired and CEO, Choice Communications Inc. managing partner, Ernst & Young J. Carter Fox, retired chairman and Allen B. King (B.S. ’77/B), chairman CEO, Chesapeake Corp. and CEO, Universal Corp. Richard G. Holder, retired chairman W. Austin Ligon, retired president and and CEO, Reynolds Metals Co. CEO, CarMax Sean Hunkler, vice president John P. McCann, chairman emeritus, of manufacturing, MEMC United Dominion Realty Trust E. Morgan Massey, chairman, Evan James V. Meath, partner and vice Energy Co. chairman of the board, Williams Malcolm S. McDonald, retired Mullen chairman, First Union-VA/MD/DC G. Gilmer Minor III, chairman, Owens John L. McElroy Jr., chairman & Minor Inc. emeritus, Wheat First Union Thurston R. Moore, chairman, Jeremiah J. Sheehan, retired chairman executive committee, Hunton and CEO, Reynolds Metals Co. & Williams LLP Hugh R. Stallard, retired president John R. Nelson, president, operations and CEO, Bell-Atlantic Virginia and technology, Philip Morris USA Richard G. Tilghman, retired chairman Charles F. Phillips III, managing partner, and CEO, SunTrust Bank Ernst & Young Hays T. Watkins, chairman emeritus, James E. Rogers, president, SCI CSX Corp. Investors Inc. Robert C. Williams, chairman Philip J. Schoonover, chairman, emeritus, James River Corp. president and CEO, Circuit City S. Buford Scott, board chairman, Scott & Stringfellow Inc. School of Business Foundation Board of Trustees Robert C. Sledd, chairman, Performance Food Group Co. Chair: Steven A. Markel, vice chairman, Markel Corp. Thomas G. Snead Jr., (B.S. ’76/B), retired president and CEO, Treasurer: Robert E. Rigsby (M.S. ’75/ Southeast Region, Wellpoint Inc. B; M.B.A. ’81/B), retired president Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield and COO, Dominion John W. Snow, JWS Associates James A. Buzzard, president, LLC; former U.S. secretary of the MeadWestvaco Corp. treasury; and retired chairman L. Dans Callans Jr. (B.S. ’66/B), and CEO, CSX Corp. president, Sunset Ford Eric P. Whittleton, (B.S. ’84/B), Marge M. Connelly, COO, Wachovia executive vice president, Technology Securities Solutions and Integration Group, Phyllis L. Cothran (B.S. ’71/B), retired CACI International Inc. president and COO, Anthem Blue F. Dixon Whitworth, (M.S. ’69/B), Cross & Blue Shield regional president, BB&T Josée G. Covington, president and CEO, Covington International Travel Ex-officio: Steven B. Brincefield, CPM, (M.S. ’74/B), senior vice Richard Cullen, partner/chairman, president, Property Services McGuireWoods LLP Group, Thalhimer Michael Dinkins, executive vice Emeritus: Bryan E. Kornblau, chairpresident and CFO, Hilb, Rogal man, Eagle Construction of Va. Inc. and Hobbs of Virginia Kirk E. Spitzer, retired president and CEO, Alfa Laval Inc. Mark A. Sternheimer Sr., president, Sternheimer Brothers Inc. Michael E. Szymanczyk, chairman and CEO, Philip Morris USA James E. Ukrop, chairman, Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc./First Market Bank Charles A. Williamson, CEO, CapTech Ventures Inc. Robert W. Woltz Jr., president, Verizon Virginia C. Kenneth Wright, chairman, Wright Properties Inc.

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Brandcenter’s creative space matches its mission Bright green floors. Metal staircase. An upstairs patio perfect for sipping a drink. Ping-pong, pool and foosball in the basement. Cool, roll-up doors that let the breeze flow in and the sounds of the Neville Brothers waft out, greeting passers-by. A swanky, new downtown hotspot where all the hipsters hang out? Try again. An educational space that melds creativity and business savvy? Exactly. The Virginia Commonwealth • Founded in 1996, the VCU University Brandcenter’s new home is Brandcenter is the only graduate a far cry from other, more traditional program in advertising to combine buildings on campus. business-oriented communications The mission to move the Brandcenter strategy and brand management into a permanent location began about tactics with leading-edge marketfive years ago, when Rick Boyko, former ing creativity. chief creative officer and co-president • Two-year Master of Science degree of Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide Inc., program with five tracks: art direcbecame managing director of the protion, copywriting, creative brand gram. From the beginning, he stressed management, communication the need for a suitable home and told strategy and creative technology VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., that the old Central Belting Building • Enrollment: 180 students; 38 perwould be the perfect location. cent minority, 51 percent female Fortunately, VCU owned the prop• Alumni: 500 erty. Longtime benefactors Dianne and C. Kenneth Wright had donated it in 1999. “When I donated the building, it was with the idea of enabling VCU to expand east across Belvidere Street,” Kenneth Wright said. But there was a caveat, recalled Dr. Trani at the Brandcenter’s grand opening in March: When discussing donating the building, which had served as the headquarters of Kenneth Wright’s business, he said to Dr. Trani, “You are going to save the building, right?” The new 27,000-square-foot space — designed by internationally renowned architect Clive Wilkinson, creator of spaces for Google, the Disney Store and advertising agencies such as TBWA/Chiat/Day in Los Angeles — incorporates many features from the old structure, including exposed wooden beams, wood floors, brick walls and parts of the original elevator, which was used for storing carriages belonging to guests of The Jefferson Hotel.

VCU Brandcenter

Aaron Neville dances with guests at the VCU Brandcenter’s grand opening celebration. More than 300 attendees enjoyed the March 6 festivities, which included entertainment by the Neville Brothers.

6 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

Designed by the internationally renowned architect Clive Wilkinson, the 27,000-square-foot VCU Brandcenter building reflects the creative nature of the top-ranked graduate program.

The Wrights’ property gift served as the catalyst for the development of the 11acre Monroe Park Campus Addition, which also includes Snead Hall for the School of Business and East Hall for the School of Engineering, as well as the 689-space Jefferson Street Parking Deck. A residential college, complete with a full-service Chili’s and a Starbucks, is scheduled to open this fall. “This hardscrabble piece of earth has never been as good as it is now,” Dr. Trani said at the celebration. The opening of the new building also signals the investment of resources, energy and support of the advertising world in the program. Michael Roth, chairman of Interpublic Group, told the crowd that the program is addressing, with “passion and talent,” issues that the advertising industry is facing. When he was asked to make a gift to the campaign during a major downturn in his company’s business, Roth bit the bullet and donated $1 million. His philosophy: “Put your money where your mouth is, if you believe in something.” He saw the Brandcenter program as a source of outstanding future advertising and branding professionals. “Without talent, you can’t have sustainability to prosper,” Roth said. “It was our chance to make a step forward and to set an example for the industry and our company.” Another major benefactor of the program has been Yahoo, which committed $500,000 to name the Yahoo Big Idea Student Lounge in the building. The company’s consigliere and Brandcenter board of directors member Matthew J. Scheckner secured the entertainment for the grand-opening festivities. The board met secretly to discuss possibilities, Sheckner said. They chose the Neville Brothers, he said, because “the group epitomizes the four attributes of the Brandcenter: creativity, sustainability, heart and soul.” The Brandcenter students exhibited that heart and soul through a personal thank you to the Wrights. “The Brandcenter students sent us a large poster signed by them with notes of thanks and how much it has meant to them; how much better they can concentrate and accomplish their work than their previous location before moving into these truly unique new quarters,” Kenneth Wright said. “The acknowledgment and expressions of gratitude are humbling and satisfying to us both. We feel great pride in being significant participants in the growth and expansion of VCU.” To make a gift to the VCU Brandcenter, contact Beth Harrington, senior director of development, at (804) 828-8384 or ekharrington@vcu.edu. Spring 2008 | 7

Renowned physician reconnects through gift Dr. John D. Bower (M.D. ’61/M), a nephrologist originally from Bedford, Va., has a history of providing much-needed funding to ensure that health care professionals are receiving a high-quality education. At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he is professor emeritus of medicine, Bower has established endowed chairs in nephrology, pediatrics and nursing. He recently extended his philanthropy to his alma mater by funding an endowed chair of physiology at Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU School of Medicine Dean Jerome F. Strauss III, M.D., Ph.D., says that on the national front, academic interest in physiology has suffered a decline in recent years, but Bower’s gift will spur a revival of its study at VCU. To Bower, physiology is one of the most basic facets of medicine and one of the most significant.

Passion for medicine, teaching shapes physician’s career path After serving four years in the U.S. Navy, Dr. John D. Bower (M.D.’61/M) returned to Lynchburg College where he graduated in 1957 after only 2 1/2 years. He graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in 1961. As a thirdyear medical student, Bower says, he knew he wanted to go into academic medicine. “I did not want to be a surgeon; I did not want to be an OB/GYN doctor. I wanted to be a teacher, and I wanted to understand the mechaDr. John D. Bower nisms of disease,” he said. During his education, Bower worked as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Robert Ramsey, a professor of physiology. After an internship at the University of Virginia, Bower returned to MCV for his residency and a fellowship in nephrology. Bower worked for two years during his training with Dr. David Hume in the Kidney Transplant Research Program, funded by the National Institutes of Health. “He was the one who really sort of set my career and attitude adjustment. … David was just such an inspiration,” Bower said. Hume recognized the need for an artificial kidney to support the transplant program. He sent Bower to train under Dr. Belding H. Scribner at the University of Washington. Bower and Hume then established the artificial kidney unit to support the transplant program at MCV. A medicine department restructuring plan at MCV gave Bower the opportunity to go to Mississippi to do research in high blood pressure with Dr. Arthur Guyton. The demand for artificial kidney services redirected his research, and he established Kidney Care, a nonprofit organization that grew to 23 kidney units in three states. Kidney Care later merged with five other programs to form the Renal Care Group. Proceeds from the merger started the Kidney Care Foundation, later named the Bower Foundation.

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Dr. Jerome Strauss (left), dean of the VCU School of Medicine, and alumnus Dr. John D. Bower, welcome Diomedes Logothetis, Ph.D., the new chair of the School of Medicine’s Department of Physiology and Biophysics and the John D. Bower, M.D., Chair in Physiology.

“In order to understand how disease affects a living organism, you’ve got to understand how the living organism functions,” he said. “How a disease modifies the function of an organism is where it’s essential to have an understanding of the physiology and the chemistry of the organism that’s infected. It’s … a question of understanding.” With the establishment of this endowed chair, the VCU Department of Physiology and Biophysics attracted Diomedes Logothetis, Ph.D., a leader in his field, from Mount Sinai University in New York as the new head of the department. Logothetis’ research is aimed at understanding the molecular functioning of ion channels. Logothetis says he was initially drawn to the university when a respected colleague from Mount Sinai who had already come to teach at VCU told him about the school and Strauss’ vision for the future. The endowed chair provides funding that Logothetis can use to support research, faculty salaries or equipment costs — whatever is needed. More importantly, though, Logothetis says being named the John D. Bower, M.D., Chair in Physiology makes a statement about his worth to the university. “It gives a sense of how you’re valued as a leader coming in to the institution,” he said. Bower’s hope is that with the money he has donated, Logothetis can make important and necessary improvements in the department. Logothetis’ hopes for the department are in line with Bower’s wishes. So what are Logothetis’ plans? “To make it the No. 1 physiology department in the country,” he said. To make a gift to the School of Medicine, contact Tom Holland, associate dean of development, at (800) 332-8813 or tehollan@vcu.edu. Spring 2008 | 9

Dentistry Class of ’57 surpasses gift-giving goal The School of Dentistry Class of ’57 was a small one — only 48 strong. A quarter of the alumni had passed away before their 50th reunion in April 2007. With so few living classmates, it was an ambitious goal when class leader Dr. Harold P. Heafner Jr. (D.D.S. ’57/D) came up with the idea of raising $50,000 to commemorate the class’s 50th reunion. The class surpassed that goal, however, at the reunion banquet, topping out at $59,000. How did the class pull off such a feat? “It just happened,” Heafner said. The 50th reunion donation began as an idea Heafner threw around after he heard about another class’s reunion donation. He thought it would be a good idea for his class to band together after 50 years to raise some money to present to their alma mater at their reunion banquet. “We had all done some things [to give back to the school] individually, but we had never done anything as a group,” Heafner said. When classmates Dr. Joe M. Adair (D.D.S. ’57/D) and Dr. William H. Allison (D.D.S. ’57/D) each agreed to pledge $5,000, Heafner knew this was an idea worth pursuing. He pledged another $5,000, and a generous $15,000 contribution came from classmate Dr. Dick S. Ajalat (D.D.S. ’57/D). They had raised $30,000 between the four of them, and then Heafner was off, sending letters and making phone calls to the rest of his classmates. Others stepped up to fill in the remaining $20,000. At the reunion banquet, someone suggested the class set a $57,000 goal, and, Heafner said, “everyone just started giving.” The class reached its new goal that night. After the reunion, classmates who couldn’t attend the banquet sent in their contributions, pushing the class over its second goal. Heafner and classmate Dr. Hubert E. Kiser (D.D.S. ’57/D) then contributed a little more to make the final gift an even number. In the end, the class donated $59,000 to their alma mater. The money went to the school’s Campaign for Clinical Simulation, which funded renovations in the school and installation of DentSim Virtual Reality Simulator System training equipment, said Ed Kardos, senior director of advancement in the School of Dentistry. The Class of ’57 Conference Room in the School of Dentistry was named in recognition of the reunion gift. For the School of Dentistry Class of ’57, giving back to VCU was a matter of gratitude. “We all owe everything to the school,” Heafner said. “We all admit that.” For more information about making a donation to the School of Dentistry, contact Ed Kardos, senior director of advancement in the School of Dentistry, at (804) 828-0324 or egkardos@vcu.edu. The School of Dentistry Class of 1957 includes Henry McCoy (front, left), Robert Markley, Bill Cabell, Harold Hefner, C. Marshall Mahanes; Edward Woolridge (middle, left), William Allison, Felix Shepard, C.R. Jones, Melvin Morrison, J. Thomas Nicholson; William Henley (back, left), Walter Hankins, Joe Adair, Jack Hurley, William Williams and Hubert Kiser. Dean Ron Hunt holds the check representing the class gift.

10 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

More than 700 School of Business alumni and friends gathered for the VCU men’s basketball game against Old Dominion University on Feb. 16. The “VCU Means Business” event has grown from 20 participants six years ago to include hundreds of alumni from throughout the area. A pre-game reception, also attended by VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., featured Rodney the Ram and the VCU cheerleaders, dance team and pep band.

Photo courtesy Katy McDaniel

Business alumni and friends build Ram pride

A crowd of 700-plus business alumni and friends cheer on the Rams.

In other giving news … • The CarMax Foundation awarded a $27,000 grant to the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University to support its “Include Me” project. The grant, made via the Richmond Funding Program, will help the partnership foster quality, inclusive education for preschool-aged children. • The VCU Massey Cancer Center will open a Phase I pancreatic cancer study later this year in conjunction with leading researchers from Israel, marking the first time cancer researchers at VCU have partnered with their counterparts in Israel. The study is supported by a $950,000 grant from the U.S.-Israel Bi-National Industrial Research and Development Foundation. Leaders from the Virginia Israel Bioscience Commercialization Center helped to foster Israeli interest in research at VCU. The trial involves a novel, targeted therapeutic agent developed by BioCancell of Jerusalem and will offer new hope for one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers. • The Office of Naval Research awarded $3.5 million in four grants to the VCU Reanimation Engineering Shock Center for research using the blood substitute Oxycyte in studies of decompression sickness, embolisms, traumatic brain injury and blast injuries. VCURES is VCU’s critical injury and illness research group that specifically studies the delivery of oxygen. VCURES has generated approximately $35 million in research funding over an eight-year period in work that has myriad applications in areas such as homeland security and traumatic brain injury. • The VCU Massey Cancer Center has created a line of gift cards. Tribute cards are available for a minimum $25 tax-deductible gift. Massey will send one of six specially designed cards to recipients, letting them know that a gift to cancer research has been made in their honor. In addition, the program provides several options to inform guests of a gift made in their honor, such as inscribed special scrolls, table cards or gift tags. To order, call (804) 827-0652 or visit www.massey.vcu.edu/pdf /TributeCardWebsiteOrderForm.pdf. • This year’s VCU Staff Senate Walk-a-Thon raised more than $11,600 for the Virginia’s Caring University Scholarship. The event, now in its fourth year, drew more than 200 employees and members of the surrounding community. The scholarship is awarded annually to a junior or senior in financial need with a GPA of 2.7 or higher who has demonstrated community service. Some of this year’s community sponsors included Target, Sam’s Club, Ab[Soul]ute Massage, Barksdale Theater, Richmond Braves, The Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Crowne Plaza Hotel and The Jefferson Hotel.

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Annual consortium celebrates heartfelt campaign This year’s annual Cardiology Consortium served a dual purpose: To offer insight into current cardiovascular health issues while celebrating the successful conclusion of the $10 million The Next Generation: Campaign for the VCU Pauley Heart Center. About 80 donors, campaign advisory committee members and heart center staff joined Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., VCU president and chair of the VCU Health System; Dr. Sheldon M. Retchin, CEO of the VCU Health System and vice president for VCU Health Sciences; and Dr. George W. Vetrovec, chairman of the Division of Cardiology; for the February event at The Country Club of Virginia. Before dinner, Dr. William C. Roberts, of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute at Baylor University Medical Center, spoke about “Atherosclerosis: Its Cause and Its Prevention.” Afterward, Dorothy and Stanley Pauley were honored for their transformational gift to the campaign, which was led by chair James Sanderlin of TroutmanSanders. Also recognized were campaign honorary chairs Martha M. Kimmerling, James C. Roberts and Charles G. Thalhimer Sr.

VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., expresses appreciation to Dorothy and Stanley Pauley and their daughter, Kathy Hickok, for their support of the VCU Pauley Heart Center.

VCU Arts names recipient of Binsted scholarship The School of the Arts has named the first recipient of the Tyler Binsted Endowed Scholarship in Sculpture + Extended Media. Conor Backman is a rising sophomore from Purcellville, Va. The scholarship was created in memory of Tyler Binsted, an undergraduate sculpture student who died in March. The merit scholarship is designated for the top Art Foundation student at VCU who has been accepted for enrollment in the Department of Sculpture, in which Binsted was enrolled. Freshman academic performance and work in the annual spring Art Foundation portfolio review will be the main criteria in the scholarship selection process. Backman will receive $1,000 from the scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year. Conor Backman

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Brown-Lyons Lecture keeps attendees in stitches

Photo courtesy VCU Libraries

Jack D. Spiro, Ph.D., had 450 donors, friends and alumni in stitches at the 23rd Annual BrownLyons Lecture when he spoke about “Jewish Humor – It’s No Joke!” Spiro, the Harry Lyons Distinguished Chair of Judaic Culture and director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Judaic Studies, discussed humor’s inherent role in Judaism and explored the entertaining nature of Jewish humor from Abraham to Mel Brooks. The annual lecture is sponsored by the VCU Libraries, the VCU Center for Judaic Studies, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, the Richmond Jewish Foundation and the Weinstein JCC. Top: Attendees enjoy the 23rd Annual BrownLyons Lecture. Bottom: University Librarian John Ulmschneider, Brown-Lyons lecturer Jack D. Spiro, Ph.D., and guest Julian B. Jacobs enjoy the reception.

VCU medical school alumni reconnect in Raleigh

Cayette and Tjukiong Tjoa, parents of second-year medical student Tjoson Tjoa, enjoy hearing about the future of their child’s educational experiences.

Photo courtesy Brian Scrickland

Dr. Jerome F. Strauss, dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, recently hosted a reception for alumni and friends living in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area. Strauss shared his vision for the medical school with the evening’s three dozen guests, who enjoyed refreshments while catching up with one another at the Umstead Hotel and Spa. The dean travels around the country throughout the year, and a visit to San Antonio, Texas, is already on his fall calendar.

Tony Segreti (left), who earned his Ph.D. in Biostatistics in 1977, greets Glenn Simon, who earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 1979, and his wife, Susan, a 1978 alumna of the School of Nursing master’s program.

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Photo courtesy Jesse Peters

More than 100 guests gathered in April for a garden party at the VCU School of Nursing. During the event, designed to thank donors for their support, Dr. Baxter Perkinson Jr. (D.D.S. ’70/D) completed an original watercolor, giving guests the chance to see him paint in person. A generous supporter of VCU, Perkinson donated 123 original watercolors to the School of Nursing in 2007 to decorate its new building. Through the Adopt-a-Painting program, funds have been raised to construct a garden behind the school. Work on the garden is set to begin this summer. Once completed, the garden will provide a relaxing space for students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.

Photo courtesy Jesse Peters

Nursing school supporters gather in the garden

Top: Dr. Baxter Perkinson Jr. addresses the crowd gathered for the garden party. Bottom: Perkinson paints an original watercolor, which he donated to the school for display in Dean Nancy Langston’s office.

Celebrated author David Baldacci speaks at VCU

Best-selling author and VCU alumnus David Baldacci greets one of the many students who attended a postlecture book signing.

14 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

Acclaimed author David Baldacci (B.A.’83/GPA) visited with College of Humanities and Sciences students, faculty and alumni in April. Dean Robert D. Holsworth moderated a panel discussion, which focused on Baldacci’s experiences as a writer and alumnus. Baldacci is a member of the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors and has generously supported the Creative Writing Program in the VCU Department of English.

‘Asking friends’ program pays off for cancer research More than 100 teams and nearly 2,000 individual runners and walkers raised $538,234 to help put “Cancer on the Run” as part of the of Massey Fundraising Challenge and the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k. Team Connie ran in honor of cancer survivor Connie Madison, who served as an informal “grand marshal” to start the April race. Afterward, Madison camped out along the course on Monument Avenue where each of the 34 members of Team Connie stopped for a hug and a photo with her. The team, led by Madison’s son and daughter-in-law, raised more than $18,000. This year, a new Friends Asking Friends online fundraising program made it easy for teams and individuals to encourage donations. All money raised will support research of all forms of cancer. Massey partnered with the Richmond Sports Backers and Ukrop’s for the event. The Massey Fundraising Challenge was sponsored by Anthem. More than 350 Massey staff and volunteers supported the race effort by stuffing race packets, manning water stations and more. This year, the VCU Alumni Association participated, handing out water and VCUAA wrist bands at the corner of Broad and Members of Team Connie — including Mark Madison (front Hancock streets. left), Steve Nuckolls (with Stuart the dog), Dean Madison, Connie Madison, David Madison and Kristina Reiss — gather With 30,000 participants, the at the Nuckolls home on Monument Avenue. The 34-member Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k team raised more $18,000 in honor of Connie, who is a patient has become the fourth-largest at the VCU Massey Cancer Center and was selected as the official starter of the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k. 10k in the U.S.

Inaugural Sullivan lecture discusses ethics, religion In April, the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Humanities and Sciences welcomed the Rev. Edward A. “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, as the speaker for the Bishop Walter Sullivan Inaugural Lecture in Catholic Studies. A large group of donors, friends and alumni gathered in the University Student Commons to hear Malloy’s talk, “Terrorism, Counter Terrorism and the Ethics of Warfare.” Malloy is a professor in Notre Dame’s Department of Theology and holds a doctorate in Christian ethics. R. Andrew Chesnut, Ph.D., selected as the Bishop Walter F. Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies, also was in attendance. Chesnut, a leading international authority on Christianity in Latin America, will join the VCU School of World Studies’ faculty in the fall. College of Humanities and Sciences Dean Robert The Sullivan lecture and the Sullivan Holsworth (left) welcomes the Most Rev. Walter chair have been generously funded through F. Sullivan and the Rev. Edward A. “Monk” Malloy donations from alumni and friends of VCU. to the VCU Scott House for a reception and dinner.

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