V i r g i n i a C o m m o n w e a l t h U n i v e r s i t y

VCU

www.support.vcu.eduFall 2010Power of Personal Philanthropy

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IV | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

Editor: Melanie Irvin Solaimani (B.S. ’96), misolaimani@vcu.edu, (804) 828-3975Writer: Sara Daves (B.A. ’08), davessl@vcu.edu, (804) 828-2049

On the cover A team from the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation designed a low-cost surgical table that was used in Honduras for performing cleft lip surgeries on children, including this girl. Above Patients wait to be screened on Sunday for surgeries the following day.

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www.support.vcu.eduFall 2010Power of Personal Philanthropy

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Inside this issueAlumna aids School of Medicine building campaign 5Alumna’s support benefits students, nonprofits 6Alumnus answers call for scholarship aid 7VCU student Emily Murphy inspires scholarship 8Class of 1960 raises $354,350 to mark reunion 9Scholarship gift solidifies grandparents’ legacy 10VCU receives record $20 million federal grant 11Reinvestment fee supports development efforts 11Summer golf tournaments boost VCU athletics 12Teen’s love of flight raises $100,000 for Massey 13Pollak Society members engage in arts events 14

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✫ see da Vinci project, continued on Page 4

Grant fuels progress of innovative da Vinci project This past spring, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Dean

Russell Jamison, Ph.D., accompanied a team of volunteer nurses and doctors on a medical mission to Honduras to perform cleft lip surgeries on children.

Jamison brought with him the Operation Simple operating table prototype, invented by students at the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation. The da Vinci Center allows students from the schools of Engineering, Business and the Arts to collaborate on constructivist theories for real-world applications.

Motivated by health care needs in Bangladesh, students discussed development of a low-cost surgical table that could be designed and shipped to developing countries. In January 2009, a team of seven stu-dents, including Skylar Roebuck (B.S. ’10) and Lauren O’Neill (B.F.A. ’09), developed a design that could provide a viable alternative to standard surgical tables manufactured in the U.S., which can cost up to $80,000 each.

By April 2009, a rough prototype was constructed. Eight months later, the first functional prototype was created. Rayco, a Richmond industrial fabrication company, helped the team modify its design and build the table. For the Honduras trip in March 2010, an operating table was produced for field testing.

The lightweight, portable table is easy to operate — it manually moves in three dimensions, works like a carjack and requires no electricity. Jamison carried the full-size, hospital-grade table, which folds into a compact 24-inch, easy-to-ship cube, as checked baggage on the trip to Honduras.

When the group arrived at Clinic Gracias Dios in Quimistan, Honduras, they found an empty surgery room. Medical volunteers who perform surgery in high-poverty areas must bring their own instruments and equipment, Jamison said.

“They could not have functioned without the table,” Jamison said. “There are hundreds of medical mission groups and a possible market for the table for this sort of use.”

“We couldn’t have arrived at this innovation without the diversity of backgrounds.”

– Lauren O’Neill

In Honduras, the surgical team, including a Penn State medical student (second from right), used the Operation Simple operating table prototype for 60 surgeries.

4 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

During the mission, Jamison acted as a circulating nurse. He sat with children awaiting surgery and walked each child to the operating room when it was their turn.

“You would think it would be a little scary [for the children],” Jamison said, “but not one single child ever cried.”

The operating table was left behind as a gift from VCU to Clinic Gracias Dios. “It’s been a very good project,” Jamison said. “This is a wonderful example of the power of interdisciplinary teams working passionately on something that makes a difference.”

Before the mission, VCU was awarded a $16,000 grant from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance. Roebuck, in charge of modeling, 3-D render-ing and production, and O’Neill, graphic designer and brand developer, received paid summer internships funded by the NCIIA grant. They plan to fabricate and test at least five more tables.

Kenneth Kahn, Ph.D., professor of marketing and director of the da Vinci Center for Innovation, said the project would have halted without the grant.

“The NCIIA grant allows us to improve the table design, make additional proto-types and test these prototypes in the field,” Kahn said.

In October 2009, the project won in the category “Greatest Potential for Patient Benefit” at the Center for Integration of Medicine and the Innovative Technology Innovation Congress poster contest in Boston.

This past summer, Roebuck and O’Neill attended an intense, five-day social entre-preneurship workshop at MIT as part of the grant. They reworked their business plan and tackled the commercialization of the Operation Simple table. Kahn continues to advise the team as they move ahead with their business plan and design revisions.

The feedback received from the Honduras medi-cal volunteers was priceless. The team saw pictures of the table in use, and they con-sidered upgrades for stability and reworked their design with the help of Rayco. Excitement brewed when it was discovered that the table made for more efficient surgeries. Surgeons could lower the operating table to their laps with their legs underneath, making it easier and faster to perform the surgeries. More than 60 surgeries were conducted in two different clinic locations in six days.

The team expects a revised design will be ready by next year. “After seeing so many recent natural disasters, we are looking forward to Operation

Simple being there to help,” O’Neill said. “We couldn’t have arrived at this innova-tion without the diversity of backgrounds.” Roebuck and O’Neill plan to take the new table on a mission this winter.

To make a gift to the School of Engineering, contact Naomi Crown, director of annual giving and alumni relations, at (804) 828-2909 or npcrown@vcu.edu.

da Vinci project, continued from Page 3

Russell Jamison, Ph.D., dean of the VCU School of Engineering, speaks at da Vinci Day 2009, where the conceptual prototype for the low-cost operating table was unveiled.

“This is a wonderful example of the power of interdisciplinary teams working passionately on something that makes a difference.”– Russell Jamison, Ph.D.

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Alumna aids School of Medicine building campaignThough she’s quick to disagree, Dr. Vivian M. Wilkerson (M.D. ’58) is some-

thing of a trailblazer. As one of only four women admitted to medical school at the Medical College of Virginia in 1954, she helped pave the way for other women to follow in what was once a predominantly male profession. Today, she’s helping blaze the fundraising trail for the construction of a new state-of-the-art educational facility for the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

Wilkerson’s generous five-year, $25,000 pledge helps set the stage for other alumni to join her in support of the $158.6 million capital construction project. Her pledge bolsters the $37 million private gifts component of the public- private partnership. The building will provide new instructional and simulation space and will allow for expanded enrollment.

Born and raised in Highland Springs, Va., Wilkerson’s decision to enter medical school came late, though it had been in the back of her mind. After graduating with a double major in business and science from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, she worked for eight years at MCV as a research technician in the pharmacol-ogy and hematology departments.

“I always thought, ‘I don’t know if I can do it,’ ” Wilkerson explains of returning to school after so much time away from studying. “We had a female medical student who worked with us in the hematology lab one summer and she encouraged me.”

She finished medical school and completed her rotating internship and pedi-atrics residency at MCV and worked as a civilian pediatrician at Kenner Army Hospital at Fort Lee for the next 34 years. When Wilkerson retired in 1995 at 70, the Kenner outpatient pediatric clinic was renamed in her honor.

Now, Wilkerson’s name will be proudly displayed on the donor wall in the new School of Medicine building, too.

Wilkerson lived at home while attending medical school. Her father worked on Main Street and he took her to campus almost every day. “Maybe it’s [because of] my Scottish background that I didn’t spend every penny I earned!” she says.

Instead, she saved her money and was able to pay her own tuition. Recognizing that today’s students struggle financially, she has made regular contributions to the School of Medicine’s Annual Fund, which exclusively supports student scholarships.

“Vivian has a deep love for MCV and has been a very involved alumna of the School of Medicine over the years,” says Dr. Ruth Campbell (M.D. ’57), her friend, fellow pediatric resident and former chair of the MCV Foundation board of trustees. “She has been very supportive of the School of Medicine with her time and resources.”

Giving back is important to Wilkerson, and she encourages others to follow her lead. In addition to her pledge to support the new building, her previous gifts include a contribution toward the renovation of the MCV Alumni House.

“I was taught to believe that you should give back for what you've received. I want to give back to future doctors and help them get all the opportunities they need to become good doctors.”

– Contributed by Nan JohnsonTo make a gift to the School of Medicine, contact Tom Holland, associate dean for

development, at (804) 828-4800 or teholland@vcu.edu.

da Vinci project, continued from Page 3

One of four women admitted to medical school at the Medical College of Virginia in 1954, Dr. Vivian M. Wilkerson has pledged her support for the new VCU School of Medicine building.

6 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

It’s 8 a.m. on a Friday during spring break. Fifty students from the School of Mass Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University have been thinking on

their toes and stretching their creative minds for the past 22 hours.

In just two more hours, they must present fully developed marketing and advertising concepts and materials to the 10 nonprofit clients they have been collaborating with all semester. The pressure is build-ing as the third annual 24-hour CreateAthon onCampus draws to a close.

“Because there were 10 teams of students, professional mentors and grad student men-tors, the energy in the building was great. If we needed a break, scooter races and dance parties were organized. It really is a

fun and rewarding experience for all,” said CreateAthon participant Melissa Calabro (B.S. ’10).

The student leaders were part of associate professor Peyton Rowe’s Nonprofit Project Development class, a semesterlong course designed to prepare for the CreateAthon event.

CreateAthon onCampus is an expansion of the 24-hour, nationwide CreateAthon first produced in 1998 by Riggs Partners in Columbia, S.C., which began this creative blitz of bringing professionals to the aid of small nonprofits. In 2008, Rowe introduced the event at VCU, which became the first college in the country to participate.

“With CreateAthon onCampus, students are the primary creators so, in many cases, they are working with clients, teams and intense deadlines for the first time,” Rowe said.

For the past two years, the event has garnered continuous support from alumna Anna Lou Schaberg (B.S. ’66; M.Ed. ’70). As executive director of the Virginia Nonprofit Housing Coalition, Schaberg has a vested interest in community building and her involvement reflects that interest, she said. At Schaberg’s direction, the coali-tion has donated $48,000 to support the event.

“I was contacted by the School of Mass Communication because there is a schol-arship there in honor of my father,” Schaberg said. “As it turned out, we shared a concern about developing strong PR materials for local nonprofits.”

The gifts from the Virginia Nonprofit Housing Coalition allowed the students to create more finished products, such as websites, logos and stationery, to hand to the nonprofits for implementation, Rowe said.

“No question that CreateAthon onCampus would not have continued after the first year if it hadn’t been for the generous support by Anna Lou Schaberg and the Virginia Nonprofit Housing Coalition,” Rowe said.

Now, Rowe hopes to implement CreateAthon onCampus at other universities. In fact, this past March, James Madison University launched a pilot CreateAthon program with Rowe’s help.

“What started as a two-page proposal three years ago will now become a national program,” Rowe said.

– Contributed by Jessica M. LeeTo make a gift to the School of Mass Communications, contact Michael Hughes

(B.A.’03), assistant director for development, at (804) 827-3671 or mehughes@vcu.edu.

Alumna’s support benefits students, nonprofits

VCU students participate in the third annual CreateAthon onCampus, a 24-hour marathon of creative work designed to assist local nonprofit organizations.

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This past May, alumnus and longtime Virginia Commonwealth University sup-porter retired Col. John D. Stephens (D.D.S. ’51) received a letter from VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., explaining how cutbacks have affected the university and its students. Rao encouraged alumni to support the Opportunity VCU campaign, which aims to raise $50 million for student scholarships and fellowships.

Stephens immediately responded by making a $5,000 gift, earmarked for scholarships in the School of Dentistry.

The university faces a historic financial situation caused by the national recession and the sustained loss of state and federal support. Because of significant state budget reductions, the expiration of federal stimulus funding and unavoidable cost increases, VCU must make up a $40 million budget gap in the next two years. The loss equates to $2,150 per in-state undergraduate student, per academic year.

The VCU Alumni Association and the MCV Alumni Association of VCU launched Opportunity VCU in November. So far, about $8.5 million has been raised.

Stephens recognizes the benefits gained because of his VCU education, he said, and that made his decision simple.

“Because of my education in dental school, the government was happy to keep promoting me,” he said.

Stephens, a Louisiana native, enlisted in the Army before he was 18. “I enlisted because we needed the money,” Stephens said. “My mother had to

sign the papers.” Several years later, he attended Officer Candidate School. At the end of WWII,

Stephens remained in the reserves and made his home in Virginia, where he met his late wife of 58 years, Edith, a Goochland County teacher who encouraged him to go to college.

As an adolescent, Stephens learned that dentistry was a great profession when he took a part-time job in a dental office. He didn’t think about dentistry again until he was a student at the University of Richmond. From there, he attended the MCV School of Dentistry and went on to practice dentistry in Florida. Two years later, he transferred from his reserve unit to the dental corps in the U.S. Army where his career blossomed. He retired in 1970.

“Right now is an important time to give to this worthwhile cause,” Stephens said. “The president made a call, and I responded.”

In his letter, Rao stressed that the continued investments of time and resources are essential to achieving a higher level of excellence across all schools and cen-ters, thereby increasing the value of a VCU degree.

Rao is thankful that Stephens saw the need to support this important initiative.“I am so grateful to Dr. Stephens for responding to our call for support for

current and future hard-working students,” Rao said. “Early gifts like these are important leadership actions that move other alumni forward at an important time in the university's history.”

A longtime donor, Stephens became a member of the MCV Society in 1994 by including the School of Dentistry in his estate plan.

“Although it has been many years since he’s been back, he has stayed close to the school, and for that, we are not surprised by his recent generosity,” said Ed Kardos, director of development in the School of Dentistry.

To make a gift to Opportunity VCU, contact Tom Burke (B.S. ’79, M.P.A. ’95), executive director of the VCU Foundation, at tcburke@vcu.edu or (804) 828-3958.

Alumnus answers call for scholarship aid

Alumnus and retired Col. John D. Stephens, pictured with his late wife, Edith, supports scholar-ship opportunities in the VCU School of Dentistry.

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8 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

VCU student Emily Murphy inspires scholarshipEmily Murphy, 22, had just begun her graduate studies and teacher assistantship

on a full scholarship in Virginia Commonwealth University’s forensic science program when she was killed in a car crash Nov. 2, 2002.

The Emily R. Murphy Scholarship was immediately established in her memory through gifts from faculty, family and friends. The merit-based scholarship is awarded each spring to a graduate student in the College of Humanities and Sciences’ Department of Forensic Science.

“Although we were still numb and griev-ing deeply, we realized what an honor this was for Emily,” said Emily’s mother, Sherrie Murphy. “She had only been [at VCU] for about three months and to think that she had made that much of an impression made us feel good.”

The Murphys attended a dinner in spring 2003 to honor the first scholarship recipi-ent, Jocelyn Carlson (M.S. ’03).

“Jocelyn had known Emily and that made it very special,” Murphy said. “We really wanted to meet her. It was a difficult meeting, but it was comforting, too.”

Carlson, now a DNA analyst for the Baltimore Police Department, said she was honored to meet the Murphys. They kept in touch until Carlson graduated.

Carlson and Emily Murphy were lab partners in chemis-try class and participated in a work-study program together in the office of VCU’s criminal justice department.

“I truly think it was won-derful of VCU to honor Emily in this way and to create this scholarship to remember her with,” Carlson said. “It’s great that the graduates of the depart-ment, her friends and family are keeping her memory alive through keeping this scholarship going.”

The Murphys have received many letters of gratitude from recipients over the years. “We truly appreciate it when students write letters to us,” Murphy said. “The letters mean a lot and it is good to know that Emily is helping other students to realize their dreams.”

Last year, to Emily’s parents’ surprise, their son, Chuck Murphy, decided to apply to the music education program at VCU to earn his second bachelor’s degree.

Chuck Murphy said he chose VCU because of the music program and to honor Emily’s memory. He recalled what his sister told him about how much she enjoyed the faculty and being a teacher’s assistant at VCU.

The Murphys have contributed $500 annually to the scholarship established in their daughter’s name, and donations have continued from friends and family.

“The Emily R. Murphy Scholarship has been an outstanding way to remember an exceptional young woman and to identify and honor fellow students demonstrating Emily’s commitment to excellence in scholarship and service,” said Bill Eggleston, chair of the Department of Forensic Science. “The department is grateful to the Murphys and others whose contributions made this annual scholarship possible.”

To make a gift to the College of Humanities and Sciences, contact Lois Badey, director of development, at (804) 827-0856 or labadey@vcu.edu.

Emily Murphy’s family honors their daughter, a VCU Department of Forensic Science graduate student, with the Emily R. Murphy Scholarship.

Emily Murphy’s parents Robert (left) and Sherrie Murphy visit with scholarship recipient Daniel Mabel (M.S. ’10).

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Class of 1960 raises $354,350 to mark reunionThis past spring, the School of Dentistry’s Class of 1960 marked its 50th reunion

by creating an endowed scholarship. As class chair for the reunion effort, Dr. Robert Eshleman (D.D.S. ’60), faculty

member and former chairman of the Department of General Practice at the School of Dentistry, organized a committee of six classmates who assisted in fundraising and planning the reunion event. The group encouraged planned giving and secured pledges that would be fulfilled over a period of years.

A $50,000 goal was set, and Eshleman, along with the other committee members, decided to start the fundraising effort with their own pledges.

“The [School of Dentistry] has been my life since 1956,” Eshleman said. “I felt this is where some of my estate should go. It’s been a good place for me.”

Eshleman named former Board of Visitors Rector Dr. French Moore Jr. (D.D.S. ’60) as the “fundraiser-in-chief” who increased the target goal to $100,000.

“The 50-year mark is a significant milestone, and French wanted his class to set the bar high,” said Dr. Jim Revere (D.D.S. ’65), the school’s director of planned giving and president of the MCV Alumni Association of VCU.

Moore, a second-generation alumnus, said he makes a point to give to his alma mater annually. His father, the late Dr. French Moore (D.D.S. ’22), was a longtime donor to the school. Moore’s son, Dr. French Moore III (D.D.S. ’82), is an adjunct faculty member at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry who teaches senior-level dental students in his private practice in Abingdon, Va.

“My son recently shared with me that one of his dental students is $300,000 in debt for his education,” Moore said. “This level of debt is such a burden for students looking to start a practice or even a family.”

Creating scholarships for students is vital, and the involvement of alumni is crucial, said Jim Doyle, director of alumni engagement for the School of Dentistry. Last fall, VCU’s alumni associations initiated the $50 million Opportunity VCU scholarship campaign. The class gift supports that effort.

After the April 24 Welcome Back Alumni Reception at the Richmond Omni, the Class of 1960 dinner was held in the School of Dentistry’s Crockett Lounge. The lounge, located in the Lyons Dental Building, was named after former faculty member Dr. Bill “Willie” Crockett (D.D.S. ’47), a professor whom the Class of 1960 remembers fondly, Eshleman said.

Moore secured a few more pledges right before dinner. The following night, 250 alumni guests — from graduating classes with years ending in multiples of five — gathered at the Richmond Omni banquet hall where the total gift amounts from each class were revealed.

When Moore arrived, he shared an elevator ride down to the banquet hall with a fellow 1960 alumnus.

“I talked with him about making an estate gift and he made a pledge right there in the elevator,” Moore said.

As a result of Moore’s last-minute fundraising, Doyle drew a line through the amount inscribed on the oversized presentation check and replaced the figure with an amount $75,000 higher than the first. To date, the total class gift is $354,350.

To make a gift to the School of Dentistry, contact Dr. Jim Revere (D.D.S. ’65), director of planned giving, at (804) 827-0438 or jhrevere@vcu.edu.

Members of the School of Dentistry Class of 1960 contin-ued to raise money even after writing their “check.”

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Scholarship gift solidifies grandparents’ legacyInfluenced by her late grandparents, Ida and Cesare Sclarandis, in their goal to

achieve the American dream, Aubrey Sclarandis (B.S.W. ’08; M.S.W. ’10) set out on her own mission: to practice social work in a developing country. For members of the Sclarandis family, life is all about taking chances.

In 2007, Sclarandis, then a junior studying in the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University, took a chance that would forever alter her life and those of future students. She joined students and faculty from the school on an annual trip to the Dominican Republic. There, the group partners for 10 weeks with the Community Service Alliance, a nongovernmental organization, to work to improve the lives of Dominican families.

During her travels to the Dominican Republic, Sclarandis was blessed by meet-ing “Ms. Sofia,” who founded a school for Haitian-Dominican children whose fami-lies migrated to the Dominican Republic in search of work. The children do not have birth certificates and therefore can’t attend public school, she said.

“Ms. Sofia just reminded me of my grandmother so much with the way she interacted with people and the way she carried herself,” Sclarandis said. “As Americans, we often take so many things for granted.”

Sclarandis made a conscious effort to be more aware of the cultural and ethical dilemmas she encounters. She wanted to help others make the change, too.

Sclarandis returned to the U.S. with a plan for using the inheritance she had received from her grandparents. That plan came to fruition when Sclarandis and her parents gave $10,000 to the School of Social Work in December 2007 to create the Cesare and Ida Sclarandis

Endowed Scholarship. That was matched dollar for dollar by Northrop Grumman Corp., her father’s employer, for a total gift of $20,000.

The scholarship defrays the travel expenses for a student in the foundation field-placement course. The winner must spend 10 weeks in the Dominican Republic.

This year’s recipient, Alma Ortman, traveled to the Dominican Republic to complete her first-year Master of Social Work field practicum. Ortman conducted a community-needs assessment in the rural area of Las Palmillas.

“I can say without a doubt that this opportunity is something every student would benefit from on both a personal and professional level,” Ortman said.

Randi Buerlein (M.S.W. ’75), assistant director of the field instruction office, directs the trip. She believes the Sclarandis Scholarship provides a unique way for students to learn about the global dimension of social work and to develop practical skills.

“Students gain a deeper understanding of human problems in the context of the social and cultural environment and develop culturally competent practice skills to meet the challenges of an increasingly global profession,” Buerlein said.

The growth of the scholarship rests in the hands of the students as Sclarandis hopes they will “rally together to create additional fundraising events to support the work of the faculty and students involved with the Dominican Republic.”

– Contributed by Jessica M. LeeTo make a gift to the School of Social Work, contact Myra Isaacs, director of develop-

ment, at (804) 828-7166 or isaacsmh@vcu.edu.

A life-changing trip to the Dominican Republic pushed VCU School of Social Work graduate Aubrey Sclarandis to create a scholarship honoring her grandparents.

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Reinvestment fee supports development effortsVirginia Commonwealth University is facing one of the toughest economic

scenarios in its history as state support continues to rapidly decline and the cost of providing Virginia students a quality education continues to rise. In 2012, VCU will have lost about one-third of the state support it had in 2008, a decrease of more than $65 million.

Increasingly, the university must rely on engaged alumni and friends to play a pivotal role in the growth and development of VCU as a major research institution.

Joining universities statewide and nationally, on Oct. 1 VCU implemented a 4 percent campaign reinvestment fee on all new gifts to further fund its development and alumni relations efforts. Half of the fee will support centralized development efforts on the university level, increasing functionality and efficiency of gift process-ing, donor stewardship and alumni engagement, as well as helping execute future fundraising campaigns. The remaining 2 percent will support the development infra-structure for the school or unit to which the original gift was made. Depending on available resources, some schools and units, including VCU Massey Cancer Center, may opt out of assessing their portion of the fee.

VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., and other senior leaders are committed to developing and strengthening relationships with external audiences, such as the General Assembly, alumni and corporate partners, to raise additional support for key education and research initiatives.

“We understand that when donors make a gift they aim to support a cause or proj-ect that is meaningful to them, and our first objective is to honor that intent,” said Peter L. Wyeth, vice president for development and alumni relations. “Today’s donors recognize that even fundraising carries a cost of doing business. We appreciate that, and we will keep that cost as low as possible while we seek to expand and improve the university’s ability to attract and steward gifts to support its priorities.

“Remember, 100 percent of every dollar given directly supports Virginia Commonwealth University. Donors are not only helping a specific school or unit but also the university as a whole.”

Rao has appointed a 26-member Development and Alumni Relations Advisory Council that is charged with implementation and oversight of the new fee. The coun-cil is chaired by School of Nursing Dean Nancy Langston and includes other senior university leaders, members of the Board of Visitors, alumni and donors.

VCU receives record $20 million federal grantVirginia Commonwealth University received a $20 million grant — the largest

federal award in its history — from the National Institutes of Health to become part of a nationwide consortium of research institutions working to turn laboratory discover-ies into treatments for patients.

The Clinical and Translational Science Award makes VCU the only academic health center in Virginia to join a national consortium of research centers sponsored by NIH’s National Center for Research Resources. This network accelerates the transfor-mation of laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients, engages communities in clinical research and trains a new generation of clinical and translational researchers.

VCU was among nine institutions selected by NIH this year, bringing membership to 55 centers in 28 states and the District of Columbia.

“Learning through research is a hallmark of VCU and this award catalyzes VCU’s ability to advance the economy of Virginia as one of the major research universities,” said Michael Rao, Ph.D., president of VCU and the VCU Health System.

VCU joins the consortium through its Center for Clinical and Translational Research, or CCTR, a comprehensive matrix center that will support VCU’s efforts to strengthen ties with affiliates and community partners.

12 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

Summer golf tournaments boost VCU athleticsThis past summer, several golf tournaments were held to benefit the Department

of Intercollegiate Athletics at Virginia Commonwealth University. The second annual CapTech Drive Golf Charity Classic held in June was a huge

success, raising more than $120,000. All proceeds benefit VCU’s Ram Athletic Fund, the Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation and the John Rollins Foundation.

“We’ve always taken great pride in these fundraising golf events,” said Norwood Teague, VCU director of athletics. “There were so many people who worked hard to make this event possible, and it’s great to see those efforts pay off.”

The golf outing was held at Salisbury Country Club in Midlothian, Va., and began with a PGA demonstration hosted by former pro Robert Wrenn and continued with 18 holes of golf, a cocktail reception and an auction, which raised more than $25,000. The tournament featured celebrities from college basketball, NASCAR and the PGA Tour.

Participant Brent Schneider, executive director of The First Tee of Richmond, added excitement to the event when he sank his tee shot on the par-3 eighth hole and collected a $10,000 cash prize in what was the event’s first hole-in-one.

In May, the Covington International Travel Black and Gold Golf Outing brought 84 golfers to show their skills at the Hunting Hawk Golf Club. The VCU athletics event raised about $10,000 to benefit the Ryan Moser and Eric Clark Scholarship for men’s basketball and the Ram Athletic Fund.

Gifts to the Ram Athletic Fund provide scholarship aid to VCU’s 16 varsity sport programs, support facility improvements and fund programmatic needs of VCU athletics.

To make a gift to Athletics, contact David Benedict, senior associate athletic director, at (804) 828-7474 or dbenedict@vcu.edu.

Staff joins development, alumni relations teamAmy Lane, Ph.D.Senior Major Gifts OfficerSchool of Medicine(804) 828-4800aglane@vcu.edu Formerly interim director of corporate and foundation relations for VCU

Donna Stewart Sharits (B.G.S. ’96)Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement School of Education(804) 828-4770dssharits@vcu.eduFormerly assistant director of development for the VCU School of Business

Cristina WoodsAdvancement AssistantSchool of Dentistry(804) 828-4516cwoods@vcu.eduFormerly marketing and estimating coordinator, Acorn Sign Graphics

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Teen’s love of flight raises $100,000 for MasseyLinsey Kornblau, an adventurous 17-year-old senior at Collegiate School, used her

love of flying to raise funds for her hometown National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center.

In early August, with the help of sponsor Eagle Construction, she flew a single-engine Cessna across the U.S. to raise money for cancer research at Massey and to inspire others to use their passion for a purpose.

The idea to fly across the country came easily, as did choosing the char-ity that she would support through her endeavor, she said. Like most people, Kornblau said, she has friends and family mem-bers directly touched by cancer and has witnessed how deeply the disease affects a community.

Her sky-high spirit of adventure found its perfect match with her growing passion for the cause.

Kornblau set up a website, www.flightformassey.org, and a Facebook page to spread the word about her endeavor and encourage donations. By the end of her four-month effort, she met her lofty goal of raising $100,000.

“I chose to raise money for Massey so my friends, family and community in Richmond will continue to have the opportunity to receive the best treatments close to home,” Kornblau says. “I know the funds will be put to good use toward promising research happening at Massey that could lead to cures.”

Kornblau’s family has a long philanthropic relationship with VCU, and her father, Bryan Kornblau, was thrilled to see his daughter’s interest in supporting Massey.

“Linsey’s passion for aviation is something we’ve shared for a while, and I couldn’t be more proud that she also shares our family’s sense of responsibility to the commu-nity,” he says. “As a father, I love that she was able to combine her spirit of adventure with making a difference in her world.”

To make a gift in support of cancer research, contact Lee Boykin, director of major gifts for the VCU Massey Cancer Center, at (804) 827-0600 or lboykin@vcu.edu.

Linsey Kornblau (center) celebrates her flight for cancer with (from left) family friend Sue McCool, mother Crystal Kornblau, flight instructor James Benwell, VCU Massey Cancer Center volunteer Becky Massey and father Bryan Kornblau.

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Altria supports research of chemistry studentsThe Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Chemistry in the College

of Humanities and Sciences has received a new three-year, $262,000 commitment from Altria to support graduate students and their research.

The Altria gift, with partial matching funds from the VCU Graduate School, will provide five graduate fellowships in 2010-11 that cover tuition and a stipend. The gift will also provide two summer research fellowships to entering graduate students in 2011, with the same cycle to be repeated over three years.

Altria has provided support for graduate students in the Department of Chemistry for the past three years. The students’ preliminary work has helped faculty obtain additional research funding.

14 | The Power of Personal Philanthropy

Pollak Society members engage in arts eventsIn addition to providing critical unrestricted support to the nation’s top-ranked

public university school of arts and design program, members of the School of the Arts Pollak Society at Virginia Commonwealth University participated in a number of engaging arts events during the 2009-10 school year.

In September, Pollak Society members attended a preview opening of the VCU School of the Arts’ Anderson Gallery’s fall exhibit, “Richard Carlyon: A Retrospective,” featuring an extensive, never-before-seen collection by legend-ary Richmond artist, educator and alumnus Richard Carlyon (B.F.A. ’53; M.F.A. ’63). The Pollak Society also gathered at the home of members Carolyn and John Snow for a private reception to meet VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D.

October took the Pollak Society to Potomac, Md., to visit the Glenstone Museum. Accompanied by Anderson Gallery Director Ashley Kistler, members took a private tour of the museum’s exhibit of contemporary art.

In November, the Pollak Society enjoyed Theatre VCU’s fall production of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” In addition, society members Terrell Harrigan (B.F.A. ’87) and Elliott Harrigan invited the Pollak Society for a program featuring VCU Department of Sculpture and Extended Media Chair Amy Hauft (B.A. ’73) and M.F.A. students from the sculpture program.

In February, a group of Pollak Society members dined with internationally recog-nized style and design icon and Richmond native Charlotte Moss at the VCU Scott House. The Pollak Society gathered later in the month to learn about collecting at the home of Paul Jacobs and Fredrika Jacobs, art history department chair.

In April, members attended a Theatre VCU production of the “The Who’s Tommy” and the annual Windmueller Artist Lecture.

This year’s Windmueller lecturer was Paola Antonelli, senior curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Following Antonelli’s lecture, “The Design Exhibitionist,” Pollak Society members had

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Pollak Society members Dick Fowlkes (left), Charles Johnson and Shelly Arthur admire the work of a VCU sculpture student at an event held in the home of members Terrell and Elliott Harrigan.

Members view the work of a VCU sculpture M.F.A. candidate at the new Try-me art space.

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Fall 2010 | 15

Engineering names foundation board presidentIn June, Arthur D. Hurtado, chairman, CEO and co-founder of McLean, Va.-based

Invertix Corp., was named president of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation board of trustees.

Hurtado is a former member of the VCU Board of Visitors and currently serves on the board of advisers for the College of Engineering at New Mexico State University and the board of the Department of Chemistry at Missouri State University. He was an officer in the U.S. Army and earned the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Purple Heart. He is married to VCU alumna Dianna Hurtado (M.S.W. ’90).

The foundation was created in 1995 in part to inspire and steward philanthropy in support of the School of Engineering.

“I am very excited to partner with Dean Russell Jamison, the university, our foundation members and the community to leverage past successes and accelerate our growing support for the dean’s compelling vision for propelling the School of Engineering to national prominence,” Hurtado said.

The School of Engineering is pursuing aggressive goals in student enrollment and quality, he said.

The VCU School of Engineering building opened its doors in 1996 as the result of a public-private partnership, funded entirely by the foundation. A second building, collocated with the School of Business, opened in 2008. The engineering portion of this building, West Hall, was funded through private giving to the foundation.

The school now occupies more than 300,000 square feet of classroom and labora-tory space, including a recent addition to West Hall that houses the VCU Institute for Engineering and Medicine and the Center for Nanomaterials Characterization.

Hurtado’s goal as foundation president is to support the goals of the School of Engineering by presenting a consistent message on the importance of giving, whether for endowed scholarships, professorships, fellowships or building programs.

“One of the most pleasurable experiences in Dianna’s and my life is listening to students and faculty who are beneficiaries of philanthropic giving on how it made a difference in their lives,” Hurtado said. “That experience is priceless.”

the opportunity to meet her at a reception in the Scott House.

April also brought the Pollak Society to the home of Martee and Charles Johnson for a private preview of the annual spring fash-ion show produced by the VCU Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising.

In May, society members enjoyed runway seating at TWENTYTEN, the depart-ment’s sold-out fashion show held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The closing event featured the VCU Department of Sculpture and Extended Media’s M.F.A. candidacy exhibit in the new Try-me art space and celebrated Dean Richard Toscan’s 14 years of service to the school.

To make a gift to the School of the Arts, contact Tom Burke (B.S. ’79, M.P.A. ’95), executive director of the VCU Foundation, at (804) 828-3958 or tcburke@vcu.edu.

A model wears a cocktail dress designed by a VCU fashion student at the Spring Fashion Preview.

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