GIVING BACK
Pride and Loyalty THE VALUE OF REUNION GIVING Reunion weekend at Hood is a time for celebration and remembrance, when alumni can gather and affirm that their Hood friendships endure for a lifetime. Coming together also connects our alumni to their philanthropic passions and inspires many to give. In fact, nearly 50 percent of alumni who give to the Annual Fund do so during their class Reunion giving campaigns. The generosity, enthusiasm and spirit of reunion classes anchor annual giving to the Hood Fund. This has been particularly important the last two years since in-person Reunion has been canceled because of the pandemic. We are inspired by the passion and dedication from reunion class leaders to generate interest in celebrating a reunion and be a catalyst among our alumni for increased financial support in a
way that is meaningful to them. The reunion class campaign efforts help strengthen ties by renewing shared feelings of pride and loyalty. This effort is a significant part of the College’s annual Hood Fund support each year and impacts every Hood student. These unrestricted gifts provide student scholarship and financial aid, academic programming, opportunities for career development, technology and resources in the classrooms, and more. Many classes formulate challenges and matches to encourage increased class participation. For their 50th Reunion, the Class of 1970 challenged their classmates and were very successful in raising $700,000 for their alma mater—more than any other class. They were the first class to encourage pledges for Hood’s Forging the Future $65 million
comprehensive campaign. All reunion giving is a valuable part of the campaign that will strengthen Hood for generations to come. We are grateful for the tremendous loyalty by our alums. With this support, the College is capable of greatness rather than status quo. The board and president are able to make choices rather than compromises. The faculty are empowered to update and develop curriculum to prepare students for successful lives. The students are emboldened to pursue internships, engage in athletics, and develop intellectual passions. Some are enabled to dream of a college education their family could not afford otherwise. Only with the philanthropic investment of alumni do these things become possible.
“As chair of the Class of 1966 55th Reunion, I reminded my classmates that the pandemic created unprecedented financial burdens on Hood’s resources. The College has done an amazing job of safely continuing with on-campus learning and living for a large number of students, as well as providing remote studies during this difficult time. Now more than ever, Reunion giving will reflect our care, concern and strong support for the Hood of today!”
Ginny Wheeler Jones ’66, M.A.’88
[pictured: Ginny Wheeler Jones ’66, M.A.’88 and classmate Pat Kehoe Tylander ’66 }
[Letter] Eleanor Gambrill Bowers ’46, P’83