Greetings fellow alumni—

As we near the end of the calendar year, I would like to take a moment to talk about annual giving at The George Washington University. Each year the GW Annual Fund raises thousands of dollars from alumni, parents, and friends. This tradition of philanthropy is not only useful to the University; it is integral to the operation of GW.

Why is philanthropy in higher education important?

Your gift and the gifts of other alumni support the deans’ priorities in each school. Each year, hundreds of students receive scholarship money, and professors are able to continue vital research as a result of the Annual Fund. Annual Fund dollars enable the University to hire a superlative faculty and allow the University to keep technology current and courses innovative. Participation by all alumni is key to improving our national rankings, in turn, making your degree more valuable.

Although all of the priorities above may be considered important, ANY program of your choice may be strengthened by your gift. You may choose to support a particular school, the athletics department, the Library, or a student program that had special meaning for you. No matter what you choose, your gift is important. If you would like to give to GW, you may visit www.gwu.edu/give2gw to make your gift online.

As a consistent donor to the University, I recognize the value of my gifts to GW. I hope that you will join me in making a gift this calendar year to the University.

Sincerely,

Scott M. Mory
Executive Director of Alumni Programs

P.S. Thanks to alumni like you, Colonials Weekend was a huge success! I enjoyed meeting all of you, and I hope that you had fun. Visit the Colonials Weekend 2004 Photo Gallery to see some photos from the weekend.

If you did not attend Colonials Weekend, don’t despair! There are plenty of ways for you to get involved at GW. GW hosts regional events in DC and in many areas around the country. Additionally, the GW Colonials basketball team is better than ever this year, and there will be many opportunities to watch them play. Don’t forget to check out the Regional Round Up to see when GW will be in your area next.