Citadel reunion classes come home with nearly $10 million

CHARLESTON, SC – November 10, 2010 – Citadel Homecoming is a time for all alumni to renew friendships and reconnect with their alma mater. This year, seven reunion classes in  particular returned to campus in style, with some extraordinary gifts for the college in hand.

As part of the 2010 Homecoming festivities, The Citadel received $9,969,420 in charitable contributions from alumni celebrating their class reunions. Of this amount, current cash gifts and pledges total $2,833,395, and the balance of $7,136,025 is in the form of future planned gifts that will be realized upon the settling of the donors’ estates. The final tally of this year’s reunion class giving will be even more substantial, as the campaign period includes contributions made through December 31.

The Classes of 1950, 1970, and 1980 presented checks exceeding $1 million each during the Homecoming football game against Elon, while the Classes of 1955, 1960, 1990, and 2000 offered reunion gifts totaling $2,095,727 to support key initiatives at the Military College of South Carolina.

Above Photo: Class of 1950: Lt. Gen. John Rosa with Jim McCarl, ’50; Bill Palmer, ’50; Sue Baker, and Tom Culler, ’50.

Class of 1970: Lt. Gen. John Rosa with Class of 1970 members Ted Ramsaur, Steve Josias, John Moore, and Lucky Lane

Class of 1980: Lt. Gen. John Rosa with Class of 1980 members Fred Whittle, Scott Vanvick, Gary Durante, and Danny Quirk

Building on the success of the 2009 class reunion gifts, which brought back a total of over $12 million, these reunion campaigns mark a new era in Citadel fundraising, one that rallies the bonds of classmates and emphasizes the importance of giving back to their alma mater amid a  challenging economic climate and declining state support.

Celebrating its 60th reunion, The Citadel Class of 1950 proudly presented two checks to Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa totaling $2,840,298 million. Of this amount, $2,275,584 was in the form of planned (or future) gifts and $564,714 was in the form of current gifts and pledges. They have designated their reunion funds to fulfill two Class of 1950 Scholarships—one held at The Citadel Foundation and one held at The Citadel Brigadier Foundation.

The Class of 1970 presented a 40th reunion gift to Rosa for nearly $2.6 million. They raised $2.16 million in planned gifts and $619,258 in current gifts and pledges. They chose to allocate their 40th Reunion Fund to the Daniel Library for renovations.

In celebration of its 30th reunion, the Class of 1980 presented two checks to Rosa for a little more than $2.4 million. Of this amount, $1.84 million was in the form of planned gifts and $599,920 was in the form of current gifts and pledges. The Class of 1980 also designated their reunion fund to support the Daniel Library renovations.

This year, these check presentations were conducted by Citadel classes celebrating their decade reunions (10th through 60th) with campaigns that launched three years prior to the milestone Homecoming gathering. During this period, each class had the opportunity to identify and raise funds to support one or more major campus needs to benefit from the class gift. Moving forward, the classes celebrating 25th reunions will also have this opportunity to rally together as a class in support of The Citadel.

Recognizing its 50th reunion, the Class of 1960 has raised $769,259 to date, with $150,000 of this amount was in planned gifts. They chose to endow the Class of 1960 Scholarship and allocate the balance to support The Citadel Fund, which provides resources for the college’s most immediate needs.

The Class of 1990 has raised $541,254 so far ($260,000 of this in planned gifts) in recognition of its 20th reunion, also in support of the Daniel Library renovation project. With a focus on broad participation 10 years out of college instead of total dollars raised, the Class of 2000 raised $148,390, all in current cash gifts and pledges, designated to the Johnson Hagood Stadium Revitalization project.

Marking the occasion of its 55th reunion with a special campaign effort, the Class of 1955 presented two checks to The Citadel for a total gift of $636,824. Raising $445,104 in planned gifts and $191,720 in current gifts and pledges, they chose to fulfill the Class of 1955 Scholarship for the benefit of cadets today and in the future.

As the class reunion campaigns are conducted, the spirit of Citadel competition helps fuel each class’s motivation to excel. By their resounding success in building upon this emerging tradition of reunion giving, Citadel graduates of all ages demonstrate their unyielding commitment to  ensuring the forward march of the Long Gray Line.

Above all, these milestone gifts underscore the enduring importance of The Citadel’s core values, reinforcing the notion that selfless service and philanthropy are essential virtues of the principled leader.

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