September 2014

Meliora! A Message from Our Chair

Nathan Moser ’75, National Chair,
George Eastman Circle

Dear Friends,

When the George Eastman Circle is mentioned outside the University community, it is defined as the “University’s leadership annual giving society.” The key word in that description is “leadership.”

In addition to new or renewed five-year gift commitments, which provide critical annual support, fellow members are providing leadership by helping the George Eastman Circle grow in their regions and hometowns. Across the country, there are more than 100 members serving on George Eastman Circle councils. Members of our councils are leveraging their networks, hosting events, and leading the way for growth of the George Eastman Circle within their own regions.

There are currently eight active leadership councils—Boston, Chicago, Long Island, NYC Metro, Philadelphia, Rochester, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.—with additional councils being established in Southern California and Buffalo. If any of you have wondered how we are growing at the rate we are, these councils—and their volunteer leaders—are among the reasons.

Commitment and enthusiasm are contagious. You don’t have to be leading membership efforts in your area to help broaden the George Eastman Circle. Renewing your membership and speaking about your membership within your circle of friends and colleagues can have a profound effect. Each of you play a significant role in sustaining and building our strength.

Thank you for all that you do as leaders within the George Eastman Circle and at the University of Rochester.

Warm regards,

Nathan Moser ’75
Life Trustee
National Chair, George Eastman Circle

Caring Across Generations

Patricia and Robert Whorf ’98M (MD), ’01M (Res)

All of our George Eastman Circle members have wonderful stories to share. We are pleased to feature this story from members who created The Whorf George Eastman Scholarship for undergraduate students in Arts, Sciences & Engineering, and who also support students at the School of Medicine and Dentistry through the George Eastman Circle.

When Robert (Rob) Whorf ’98M (MD), ’01M (Res) applied to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, he already had a sense that the University was a special place.

“At the time, many medical schools were part of a consortium—if you applied to one, you applied to all,” says Rob. “Rochester was separate and required a handwritten application and essay. It cared enough to be different.”

When he was invited to interview with the University, Rob stayed with medical students in Rochester’s 19th Ward, one of whom gave up his bed so Rob would have a good night’s sleep. His thoughtfulness touched Rob, and administration and faculty he met the next day left a similar impression. “It became clear that the University had a desire for students to become not just doctors, but good ones of quality and humility.”

Having lost his mother to lung cancer while still in medical school, Rob immersed himself in studying how to fight this devastating disease. He went on to complete a fellowship in medical oncology at Yale University School of Medicine, and is now director of research operations at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, the largest independent medical oncology/hematology practice in the United States.

Throughout his academic and medical training, Rob found himself drawn to the people—caring for patients as individuals, and as beloved members of their families. Today, his patients and colleagues can attest to Rob’s caring and creative approach to research, which is helping develop new ways to fight cancer and become “ever better” at treating patients.

“Nobody wants to receive less than the very best of care, and in oncology, that means understanding not just the medical and pharmacological side, but also the emotional, psychological, and spiritual issues,” says Rob. “There are multiple levels of complexities, and you need to take care of them all.”

A proponent of the University’s motto, Meliora, since his days on campus, Rob has helped countless patients with cancer have hope for a better tomorrow. And now he and his wife, Patty, are helping future doctors and leaders at the University of Rochester through their support of The Whorf George Eastman Circle Scholarship for undergraduate students, as well as their support of students at the School of Medicine and Dentistry through the George Eastman Circle.

“We like that we are helping free students from financial worries so they can go on to do something great with their lives. That’s what Meliora is—striving for excellence and being ever better, so you can help future generations to do the same.”

Learn more about George Eastman Circle Scholarships.

Getting LinkedIn

The George Eastman Circle recently launched a new LinkedIn group to provide even more information and networking opportunities to its members around the world.

To join this exclusive members-only group, you first need to have a LinkedIn account. Once you have created an account, or if you already have one, visit the George Eastman Circle LinkedIn page, and click “Join” in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

Your Philanthropy at Work

George Eastman Circle members have pledged more than $60 million in annual funds since the program’s inception in 2007. Here is a small sample of the many ways your support has made an impact on the University and the surrounding community throughout 2013.

Golisano Children’s Hospital

$1,862,974 pledged

• Gifts supported the continued construction inside the new hospital. The eight-story building is scheduled to open in 2015 and will feature significant improvements such as the Gosnell Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, private patient rooms, and an advanced imaging facility.
• Our Pediatric Orthopaedics program earned a place amongU.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals listing for the fifth consecutive year, and maintained a reputation for expertise in treating scoliosis, hip, and rib deformities on the East Coast.
• Scientists identified a group of gene mutations that may be behind up to 10 percent of complex congenital heart defects, the most frequent type of birth defect and a leading cause of infant death.

Athletics 

$1,851,920 pledged

• Talented student-athletes were recruited to lead Rochester to a top five Division III ranking for Academic All-Americans.
• Support has fueled outstanding accomplishments. Men’s Basketball was the University Athletic Association (UAA) champion and had the national player of the year. Women’s Basketball has now been to nine NCAA tournaments in the last eleven years.
• Men’s Squash finished in the country’s top five for the fifth consecutive year. Men’s and Women’s Swimming have won three straight Liberty League titles. Men’s Indoor Track had a state champion in the 5,000- and 3,000-meter races.
• Women’s Softball had the UAA player of the year. Men’s Golf was the UAA champion and had a golfer win their third consecutive UAA Championship. Women’s Crew won the Varsity-8 at the Dad Vail Regatta.

Highland Hospital

$516,059 pledged

• Highland Hospital was listed by U.S. News & World Reportas one of the best hospitals in western New York for 2013–14.
• The Wolk Emergency Department implemented new protocols and physical changes to meet the unique needs of elderly patients. Improvements include streamlined care for conditions such as pneumonia and hip fractures, enhanced geriatric-specific training, and six newly designed senior-friendly patient rooms.
• Growth in surgical volume was supported by the creation of two new, state-of-the-art operating rooms.
• The Palliative Care and Gynecologic Oncology programs earned esteemed Joint Commission Certification.

Dollars pledged are as of December 31, 2013.

To read more about how members’ support has made an impact across the University, visit the impact page of the George Eastman Circle website.

University News

Ron Fielding ’73 (MA), ’76S (MBA), P’14S

As George Eastman Circle members, your commitment to philanthropy makes you leaders within the University community. Your annual support provides critical funds that enable world-class research and health care and create countless academic opportunities, which advance our mission toLearn, Discover, Heal, Create—and make the world ever better.

Below are members who have made significant Campaign gifts in addition to their membership commitments.

With a $1 million commitment, the Andrew P. Barowsky Foundation established a fellowship for students of Dominican University of California pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Rochester. Charter Member Andrew P. Barowsky ’72, president of the Barowsky Foundation, began serving on the board of trustees at Dominican University in 2004, where he currently serves as chair. Andrew seeks to promote academic advancement by creating a path between Dominican University and his alma mater. You can read more about Andrew and the gift from Barowsky Foundation in theofficial press release.

C. McCollister “Mac” Evarts ’57M (MD), ’64M (Res), Distinguished University Professor and former CEO of the Medical Center, made a $1 million commitment to establish theDr. C. McCollister Evarts Professorship in Orthopaedics. Dr. Evarts is creating the professorship to help the University recruit and retain exceptional faculty in the field of orthopaedics. The inaugural Evarts Professor is John T. Gorczyca, M.D., director of UR Medicine’s Orthopaedic Residency Program. You can read more about Dr. Evarts’ gift and John Gorczyca in the October issue of Fast Forward.

In 2004, University Trustee Cathy Minehan ’68, P’04 and her husband, Jerry Corrigan established the Cathy E. Minehan and E. Gerald Corrigan Endowed Scholarship. The two George Eastman Circle Charter Members recently added an additional $1 million to their scholarship, creating even more opportunity for University students. The scholarship provides assistance for students in the School of Arts & Sciences. Recipients must have significant financial need, with preference given to underrepresented minorities and/or athletes in good academic standing, and to those pursuing faculty-directed research in the social sciences. You can read more about Cathy and Jerry’s gift in the official press release.

On October 15, University Trustee Larry Bloch ’75, P’13Sand his wife, Cindy Bloch P’13S, were recognized for their generous support of the University’s Advancement program at the formal dedication of the Larry and Cindy Bloch Alumni and Advancement Center. The Blochs, Charter Members of the George Eastman Circle, became the Center’s namesakes in recognition of their establishment of the Larry and Cindy Bloch Endowment for University Advancement in April. You can read more about the dedication ceremony in the October issue ofFast Forward.

An investiture ceremony was held at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre for Charter Member Jamal Rossi ’87E (DMA), the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music. At the ceremony, a fellow member and one of the namesakes of Dean Rossi’s endowed position was also recognized. University Life Trustee Martin Messinger ’49received the Eastman School of Music’s Luminary Award for his extraordinary service to music and the arts at the local and national levels. You can read more about the investiture ceremony in the November issue of Fast Forward.

Upcoming Events

Through a dedication to philanthropy, the George Eastman Circle is helping to shape the future of the University and touching lives around the world. Your five-year commitments are providing critical budget-relieving annual funds to specific schools and units of the University and, ultimately, strengthening the University’s ability to make a profound impact on society.

One of the ways we’re able to thank you is to extend invitations to various regional gatherings, dinners, and University programs. Here is a list of upcoming events:

Los Angeles, Calif.: Meliora Challenge Celebration Dinner

September 21, 2014
Pasadena, Calif.
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena

Meliora Weekend: An Evening with Jason Alexander 

October 17, 2014
Rochester, N.Y.

Exclusive George Eastman Circle pre-concert reception:
5:30pm at the Memorial Art Gallery. Tickets are $20/GEC members.

Performance:
8pm at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater. Only Grand Balcony tickets available ($25).
You can register online.

Meliora Weekend: Keynote Address by Doris Kearns Goodwin

October 18, 2014
Rochester, N.Y.
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

To purchase tickets, please visitwww.rochester.edu/melioraweekend.

Ferrari Humanities Symposia

October 30, 2014
Rochester, N.Y.
Hawkins-Carlson Room
Rush Rhees Library

Chicago Regional Cabinet Annual Event

November 6, 2014
Chicago, Ill.
Featuring URMC faculty members David Topham and Deborah Fowell for the discussion “New Vaccines on the Horizon”
6pm at the Conrad Chicago

Westchester/Fairfield Regional Cabinet Annual Event

November 19, 2014
Hartsdale, N.Y.
Featuring Robert Clark, senior vice president for research and dean of the Hajim School
Scarsdale Golf Club

Northern New Jersey Regional Cabinet Annual Event

November 20, 2014
Featuring Robert Clark, senior vice president for research and dean of the Hajim School
6pm (location TBD)

Houston, Texas: Meliora Challenge Celebration Dinner

November 13, 2014
Hotel ZaZa

Dallas, Texas: Meliora Challenge Celebration Dinner

November 14, 2014
Park City Club

New York City Holiday Party

December 3, 2014
New York, N.Y.
JW Marriott Essex House New York

For more information about attending any of these events, please contact the Office of Donor Relations at 800-281-2055.