The Miami University Campaign - Giving Tribute Summer 2007 - Glee Club Centennial Campaign Kicks Off During Reunion Weekend

Summer 2007

Glee Club Centennial Campaign Kicks Off During Reunion Weekend

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One of the highlights of a very successful Reunion Weekend was the memorable reunion performance of Miami's Men's Glee Club, which combined the powerful voices of more than 320 current and former Clubbers with 100 years of history.

While the opportunity to sing and enjoy one another's fellowship has been a steady draw for the organization's reunions, which occur every three years, the Reunion Weekend gathering was the largest in Club history and truly something to remember.

"These reunions have a tremendous impact on our alumni and students," Director Ethan Sperry said. "They have a tremendous impact on me. I don't know of another organization like it."

To capitalize on that momentum, Sperry and a group of dedicated Club alumni, including development officer Christopher Adkins-Lamb, unveiled the Centennial Campaign during the weekend, which is aimed at providing travel support for current Glee Clubbers.

Along with a domestic tour each winter, Miami's Glee Club departs on a summer tour every three years to an international destination. The 2005 tour was to France, Germany and Luxembourg. In 2008, the Glee Club will head to China as part of the festivities for the Bejing Olympics.

During the most recent summer tour, only 28 of the 60 men on tour received partial financial support to help cover expenses. The goal of the Centennial campaign is to bring Summer Tour within reach of all Club members through an endowment.

"Summer tour is a tremendous experience that many Glee Club members cherish for the rest of their lives," Adkins-Lamb said. "Through the Director's Endowment, Club alumni can help ensure that future Clubbers have that same opportunity."

The campaign met with resounding success during Reunion Weekend, raising more than $65,000 and generating interest among a number of other potential contributors. The possibility of endowing a professorship for the director position also is being explored.

The Glee Club is halfway through a centennial year celebration that concludes with the Centennial Concert on Feb. 28, 29 and March 1, 2008.

Campaign Update Totals continue to climb O'Tooles Invest in Miami Faculty Faculty support a top priority Construction Update Earth moving at new business school Football Scholarship Honors Miami Legends Holt gift endows scholarship Gates Scholarship Supports Students Glee Club Centennial Campaign Kicks Off During Reunion Weekend Lewis Supports Wall Street Program Walter L. Gross III Creates Scholarship for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Kerzic Scholarship Provides a Taste of the American Dream Scholarship Established in Honor of Former Football Coach Terry Hoeppner American Greetings Creates Graphic Design Scholarship Faculty, Staff Give Generously Through New Program Morgan Gift Supports Student Counseling Services Giving Tribute Summer 2007 Downloadable Version Past issues of Giving Tribute

COMMITMENT UPDATE

Gifts received between Jan. 1, 2007, and March 31, 2007.

A number of major gifts and pledges highlighted another successful quarter in The Miami University Campaign For Love and Honor. Among the most generous commitments are the following:
$1,750,000 from Lova Riekert '31 to support the Dillman Scholarship Fund for assisting students in need of financial support.
$638,947 from Virginia Ann Todd '40 to provide a perpetual fund that will be used for scholarship support.
$600,000 from Cornelia Polasky-Holt to endow the Parseghian-Pont-Kurz Football Scholarship.
$523,038 from the Oliver & Peg Amos Foundation, Inc., to support the J. Oliver Amos Alumni Scholarship.

As of June 30, the campaign
had raised $274,437,905.

Please note: In the winter 2007 issue of Giving Tribute, the gift credited to James Naus should also be credited to Susan Naus '67.