Fast Forward: The University of Rochester Advancement E-Newsletter

George Eastman Circle Inaugural Gala Held in New York City

On April 2, the Charter Members of the George Eastman Circle gathered at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City for an important and historic event — the George Eastman Circle Inaugural Gala. The group celebrated the roaring success of the University’s new donor recognition society and kick off the beginning of a new era. Nearly 300 Charter Members and guests were in attendance.

Gala speakers included George Eastman Circle National Co-chairs Larry Bloch ’75 and Tom Sloan ’65, ’67 along with Gwen Meltzer Greene ’65, chair of annual giving programs, and President Joel Seligman. George Eastman Circle Vice Chairs Robert Hurlbut, Nathan Moser ’75, Peter Standish ’64, Janice Willett ’78S and Nathaniel Wisch ’55 were recognized for their committment and leadership.

The Gala featured a keynote address by noted historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who spoke about presidential history and the lessons of leadership. During her research for her best-seller Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Goodwin reviewed the William Henry Seward Papers housed in the University of Rochester’s Rush Rhees Library.

Also on display was the Greater University Fund Donor Book, brought to the event by University Archivist Nancy Martin from the archives of Rush Rhees Library. This historical volume lists the names of individuals who contributed to the campaign to build the River Campus in the 1920s. George Eastman’s name is listed among 13,000 others. It is well known that George Eastman’s philanthropic leadership inspired his generation and helped to transform the University of Rochester from a regional liberal arts college into an internationally recognized research university. The University has named its newest leadership giving society in his honor with the hope and expectation that his example will continue to inspire many more generations of supporters.

As a finale, Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Jim Thompson unveiled and read a George Eastman Circle Charter statement that articulates the shared values and commitment of the group to building a greater University for future generations. The volunteer leaders of the George Eastman Circle participated in a ceremonial signing of the document. All Charter Members in attendance were invited to join in this new tradition of signing the George Eastman Circle Charter. The signatures will be digitally assembled and bound into a beautiful final volume. Charter Members who were not in attendance will also have an opportunity to sign, as will new Charter Members who join the Circle before the Charter Campaign ends on June 30, 2008.

The formation of the George Eastman Circle is a fundamental step in strengthening the University of Rochester. Thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of the many volunteer leaders and University staff who have worked together in partnership, the George Eastman Circle currently has more than 600 Charter Members, far surpassing the initial goal of 250. In the years ahead, the George Eastman Circle will become the University’s premier giving society that recognizes our most dedicated annual supporters. And the Charter Members have already made history.

To see photos of the event, click here.

Eastman Kodak Company Commits $10 Million to Help Complete Eastman Theatre

On the morning of April 11, the University gathered together with the Rochester community for a special musical program and major announcement held at Eastman Theatre. President Seligman, Doug Lowry, Dean of the Eastman School, and Christopher Seaman, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director, were joined on the stage by Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and CEO of Eastman Kodak Company. Perez announced that Kodak is committing $10 million to the University of Rochester to support the Theatre’s renovation and expansion. In recognition of Kodak’s leadership support, the Theatre’s main performance hall will be renamed “Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre” when the renovations are completed.

“Kodak has had a close relationship and a strong partnership with the University and the RPO throughout their history, a bond that began with George Eastman, and is stronger today,” said Perez.

President Seligman said Kodak’s investment will enable the people of Rochester to enjoy an enhanced performance hall and the economic development benefits that will come from construction and an increasingly vibrant cultural district downtown.

The project, which includes the addition of a building for teaching and performance spaces, will complete George Eastman’s original plan for the University’s Eastman School of Music as well as the adjoining Theatre.

For the whole story, click here.

To see photos from the event, click here.

University Dedicates New Home for the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center

On May 15, the University celebrated the expansion of cancer care and research as it dedicated the new home of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center. The Wilmot Cancer Center introduces leading-edge technology, greater access to multidisciplinary care, a new model for breast care, and more opportunities to receive tomorrow’s therapies today. More than 300 supporters turned out for the celebration.

“We are dedicated to achieving national leadership in cancer care and research. Our team is recognized for novel clinical and scientific research contributions that have shaped treatments and cures,” said Richard I. Fisher, M.D., director of the Wilmot Cancer Center. He gave credit to the community, University leadership, and volunteers whose collective efforts are pushing cancer treatment and research further. “There is nothing in Upstate New York and New England like the Wilmot Cancer Center,” he said. “This is where innovative care will change the cure rate of cancer.”

The Wilmot Cancer Center has a 35-year history of excellence in patient care. The new center will have doctors, nurses, support staff, cancer specialists, and research scientists working together in a single 163,000-square-foot facility. With the help of generous supporters like the Wilmot Family and James P. Wilmot Foundation, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, John W. Rowe, M.D., the Davenport-Hatch Foundation, Joan and Harold Feinbloom, Dorothy and Henry Hansen, Xerox Corporation and thousands of others, the center surpassed its $42.5 million campaign goal.

Medical Center CEO Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D. said: “The new James P. Wilmot Cancer Center is a major step forward in the move to make URMC a nationally recognized center for progressive care and research.”

Discovery Ball Highlights

On May 10, the 9th Annual Discovery Ball broke all records for generosity, raising $1.7 million for the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center. More than 1,100 people attended the event held at the Rochester Convention Center.

A highlight of the event was the announcement by Thomas C. Wilmot, son of James P. Wilmot, that the Wilmot family and James P. Wilmot Foundation would increase their support for the comprehensive campaign to $8 million, carrying on the patriarch’s dedication to advancing cancer research in Rochester.

“We’re proud to have the family of James P. Wilmot standing side-by-side with us as we create one of the best cancer centers in the nation here in Rochester,” said President Seligman.

The Wilmot family and its James P. Wilmot Foundation previously contributed $5 million as a jump-start to the Cancer Center’s comprehensive campaign. The additional $3 million demonstrates their continued enthusiasm for the creation of a state-of-the-art, nationally recognized cancer center in Rochester.

For the whole story, click here.

To see photos of the event, click here.

Corrigan-Minehan Professor of Political Science

On March 24, Trustee Cathy Minehan and her husband E. Gerald Corrigan welcomed and celebrated the work of Lawrence Rothenberg, the new Corrigan-Minehan Professor of Political Science in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. Rothenberg, an expert on interest groups and environmental politics, was honored in an installation ceremony held in the Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library.

The endowed professorship is part of a $3 million gift to the University of Rochester, which also will be used to fund scholarships. Corrigan, a former chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is now a managing director at Goldman Sachs. Minehan, former chief executive and president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, now works at Arlington Advisory Partners in Boston. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the College in 1968 and has served as a trustee of the University since 1995. She holds an M.B.A. from New York University.

“Just about everything he said about his approach to political science, his approach to scholarship, his approach the research, hit my sweet spot,” Corrigan said during his speech at the ceremony. “We think of this as an investment in the future.”

“Being able to give back is a humbling thing,” Minehan said. “Neither of us could think of anything better than investing in the University.”

University President Joel Seligman thanked Minehan and Corrigan for their long relationship with Rochester and acknowledged Rothenberg’s work and dedication to his field.

“Few events in the life of a university or college rival the creation of an endowed professorship,” Seligman said. “This is literally the equivalent of a knighthood. Cathy and Gerry’s dedication to education is what we’re really celebrating today.”

Rothenberg originally joined the University of Rochester in 1989. He is the former director of the W. Allen Wallis Institute of Political Economy at the University. Rothenberg taught at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University from 2002 to 2005. During that time he was named Max McGraw Distinguished Professor of Management and the Environment, and director of the Ford Center on Global Citizenship. Rothenberg returned to Rochester in 2005. He received his doctoral degree from Stanford University in 1986 and is the author of numerous journal articles and four books.

Advancement Professional Leads Stewardship Programs

Erin L. Moyer has joined University advancement as senior director of stewardship.

Moyer was director of stewardship at Lehigh University before coming to Rochester. At Lehigh, she oversaw both the gift processing and stewardship departments. She created and managed Lehigh’s donor acknowledgement policies and correspondence during their $500 million campaign.

She designed programs to honor donors at the $1 million level and higher and donors who supported scholarships, facilities, endowed funds, and other essential areas serving Lehigh’s mission. Before her director tenure of nearly two years, she served as Lehigh’s assistant director of stewardship.

Moyer also gained valuable advancement experience as a member of the donor services staff at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Penn. The philanthropic organization is dedicated to soil regeneration for the improvement of agriculture and human health.

Moyer earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Kutztown University and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Lehigh University.

Associate Vice President for Medical Center Advancement Named

Chad M. Gobel, formerly of the Cleveland Clinic, has been appointed associate vice president for Medical Center Advancement at the University of Rochester. His professional skills, collaborative approaches, and energy are an ideal fit for the Medical Center’s advancement efforts.

Gobel brings extensive advancement leadership experience to Rochester. As associate chairman for institutional relations and development at the Cleveland Clinic, his team contributed substantially to a $1.25 billion campaign and supported the goals of that institution’s strategic plan. He has produced dramatic results in grateful patient giving and built highly successful principal, leadership, and major giving programs.

Prior to the Cleveland Clinic, he was assistant dean for external affairs for the College of Dentistry at The Ohio State University where he grew the fundraising program 600%. Before Ohio State, he held advancement positions at the University of Maryland, including assistant to the president and director of government and community relations.

A frequent speaker at national conferences, Gobel holds an M.B.A. from the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Towson State University.

Simon School Stock Climbs in U.S. News & World Report

The University of Rochester’s William E. Simon Graduate School of Business has risen into the rank of the top 25 business schools in the influential, annual survey released by U.S. News & World Report. The new ranking reflects a jump from last year’s position as 36th in the nation.

This upward movement reflects improvements by Simon in virtually every survey category including recruiter assessment (up 19 places), average starting salary and bonus (up nine), undergraduate G.P.A. (up three), students employed three months after graduation (up three), and students employed at graduation (up two).

In a phone call to Simon School Dean Mark Zupan, J. Peter Simon sent his congratulations to the University community: “I am exhilarated and proud that the Simon School is beginning to be recognized for the fine quality institution that we are, and I look forward to the bright future ahead of us.”

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