Campaign News

January 2007

Trinity’s Campaign Reaches New Milestone
by Sharon Jones Schweitzer ’75

President’s Dinner Celebrates Success to Date, Anticipates Home Stretch

President Brazil with Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of AT&T and member of Trinity's Honorary Campaign Committee.

The President’s Dinner served as an elegant backdrop to deliver the news that The Campaign for Trinity University has now reached $127.7 million toward the $200 million goal. The annual black tie event, held Jan. 18, 2007, at San Antonio’s Marriott Rivercenter, celebrated Trinity’s outstanding students, the University’s accomplishments, and the benefactors who make it possible.

More than 300 alumni, friends, parents, faculty, and staff attended the gala, which some described as the equivalent to a formal “kick-off to the second half of the Campaign.” The theme for the event was Dream – to coincide with the Campaign’s theme line – Dream. Inspire. Achieve. The Campaign for Trinity University. The evening’s musical entertainment featured the Trinity University Jazz Combo and the harmonious sounds of the Trinitones, a men’s a cappella group.

Peter Jennings '64 , Kay Jordan '64, Jan and Trinity Trustee Miles Cortez '64 visit at the President's Dinner.

The highlight of the evening for most attendees, however, was the “March of Trinity Scholars” and the opportunity for donors to learn more about Trinity from a student’s perspective as well as share the student’s dreams for the future. Lissa Walls Vahldiek ’80, chairman of Trinity’s Board of Trustees and mistress of ceremonies for the President’s Dinner, introduced the students as “ambassadors of gratitude representing Trinity’s student body.” The 37 Trinity students then introduced themselves to the audience before joining guests at their assigned table. “The students were present and visible at the dinner so donors could see what their gifts accomplish,” said Dick and Kathy ’82 Schlosberg. For the students, “it was like networking in hyper drive,” said sophomore Bene’ Petty. She came away from the dinner with business cards and the possibility of a future internship. Sophomore Kevin Eaton, who is considering a premed major and went to Ethiopia last summer on a medical assistance trip, enjoyed connecting with Victoria Jennings ’67, who has traveled the world in her role as director of Georgetown University’s Institute for Reproductive Health.

Trinity students introduce themselves to dinner guests during the "March of the Trinity Scholars."

Clearly, the caliber of students is what made the event so special for so many Trinity patrons. Senior Merideth Terry, who served as the student keynote speaker, announced to the gathering that she will work in T. Rowe Price’s London office in public relations and marketing upon graduation. The communication major from San Antonio summed up her Trinity experience by saying, “I know that the quality education I have received at Trinity has prepared me for this exciting career.”

In his keynote address, Trinity president John R. Brazil thanked donors for their “great generosity of spirit” that has contributed to Trinity’s success. He also reaffirmed the vision of an “ever better” Trinity and the promise to our students of “an education that will challenge and liberate them, while providing them experiences that enable them to be leaders in their professions and communities.”

In a Campaign progress report, Jim Dicke ’68, Trinity Trustee and member of the Campaign Steering Committee, announced the updated total of $127.7 million in campaign gifts and pledges. He said the Campaign has been remarkably successful and is now more than halfway toward the $200 million goal, “but reaching that goal will require the continued, generous support and participation of the entire Trinity community.” Other milestones to date for The Campaign for Trinity include:

• The Campaign has received 23 leadership gifts ($1 million and above) totaling $87,414,052.
• Twenty-four new endowed scholarships (minimum $100,000 gift) have been established and 14 existing endowment funds have had significant infusion as a result of the Campaign.
• The Brown Foundation Inc. of Houston authorized a $2 million grant to the Campaign for Trinity’s Top Scholars Program. The grant will help some of the nation’s very top students attend Trinity.
• The leadership of Trinity’s Board of Trustees has had a dramatic effect on the Campaign and Trinity with Trustees committing nearly $17 million so far.
• Trinity’s 36-member National Alumni board pledged 100 percent participation in the campaign prior to its public announcement.
• Tennis alumni are spearheading an initiative to bring in $1 million for a new tennis pavilion and to support the tennis program. More than $500,000 in pledges have been secured so far.
• Sixty percent of Trinity faculty and staff have made a gift to the Campaign. Twenty-two faculty have made a leadership gift to challenge their colleagues to participate.
• Among the gifts received by the Campaign are several large bequest gifts from 15 estates. Donors have also made gifts by creating charitable gift annuities and trusts totaling $2,650,000.

Launched on Sept. 22, 2005, Dream. Inspire. Achieve. The Campaign for Trinity University, with a $200 million goal, is the most important and challenging advancement initiative in Trinity’s 136-year history. For more information about the Campaign visit the Dream. Inspire. Achieve. Web site.

Mickey Roth and Jutta Von Borg-Roth and Kathy '82 and Dick Schlosberg enjoyed the evening with their "Trinity Scholars."