Why Your Annual Fund Gift Matters
Andrew Tate ’98, Annual Fund Chair Need help making your gift in a way that works best for you? Contact the Annual Giving Office at 540-458-8420.
I AM EXCITED TO SERVE AS ANNUAL FUND CHAIR this year because it gives me the opportunity to promote the importance of giving among my fellow alumni. Together, we form a strong foundation for the school, and considering the challenges facing higher education today, it is more important than ever that we support the Annual Fund. I accepted this role as a way to continue to stay engaged with the university I love. W&L is a special place to me, and I have fond memories of my time there. It has been important to my wife, Carson, and me to be active alumni in terms of volunteer and financial support. We make it a priority to give back to a place that was such a meaningful part of our lives. The Annual Fund allows the school to go from being a great institution to an excellent one. Our consistent support is critical for the continued evolution and growth of Washington and Lee. I am celebrating my 20th reunion this coming year, and as part of that celebration, I will make a leadership gift to the Annual Fund to honor an institution that has given so much to so many. I hope my classmates and extended W&L family will join me in supporting future generations of students and their life-changing experiences at our school. When you give to the Annual Fund, you and fellow donors are providing as much as 8 percent of the university’s operating budget. Thanks to last year’s donors, the Annual Fund will provide a subsidy of $4,898 toward
ANNUAL FUND
ANNUAL GIVING OFFICE
education costs for each student at W&L this year. Your Annual Fund gift goes to work right away, supporting co-curricular programs such as the Williams Investment Society, Shepherd Poverty Program, Real Estate Society, and many others. Your support helps provide students with enriching experiences off campus as well by covering travel expenses to academic conferences, sports competitions, and educational trips. When you make a gift to the Annual Fund, you are also ensuring that students have all of the educational materials they need — from lab supplies and library books, to resources to stock the 3-D printer in the IQ Center. It would require an additional $219 million in endowment to generate the same level of support that the Annual Fund provides. This statistic alone is why the Annual Fund is so impactful. As alumni, parents and friends, we play a key role in empowering W&L to reach even greater heights. Please prioritize your giving to Washington and Lee, because it makes a significant difference for students today and those to come, and then consider how to accomplish your best gift. You can make a single or multi-year pledge, or set up a recurring monthly gift. For a 2017 charitable tax deduction, you will want to make it before Dec. 31. Just remember that you must make your gift before June 30, 2018, for it to count for this fiscal year.
540-458-8420
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