A
Seat at the Table
The Black Alumni Campaign for The College of Wooster
Dear Fellow Alum,
As you may already know, The College of Wooster has set a goal of raising
$122 million by June 2007 through a drive called Independent Minds:
the Campaign for Wooster. The Independent Minds Campaign is different
from The Wooster Fund. Although The WoosterFund is part
of the effort, it involves other goals like building renovations and
endowments. A full explanation of the Independent Minds: the Campaign for Wooster can be found at http://www.wooster.edu/campaign/overview.php.
One of the first thoughts that went through our minds when the campaign
went "on the road" was how do we assure "a seat at the table" so that
Black students can benefit from this fund raising effort when the money
is being allocated? The answer is simple — we as Black alumni
must give money to establish endowment funds that will benefit current
and future Black students at The College of Wooster.
We are pleased to announce "A Seat at the Table," the Black Alumni Council's
campaign for The College of Wooster. The goal of "A Seat at the
Table" is to raise a minimum of $200,000 to support current endowments
like the Theodore Williams Scholarship Fund and the Clarence B. Allen
Scholarship Fund as well as to establish three library endowment funds
and a program fund to improve the lives of Black students at The College
of Wooster.
The three library funds will be the Yvonne Williams Library Endowment
Fund to establish and maintain a core collection of books in Black Studies;
the Annetta Jefferson Library Endowment Fund to establish and maintain
a core collection of books in African-American theater, cinema, media,
and the arts; and the Josephine Wright Library Endowment Fund to establish
and maintain a core collection of books in African American music and
music history. These three professors were chosen because they
have each dedicated at least 20 years to The College of Wooster and have
provided guidance to numerous students. The librarians would choose
the books based on purchase requests and in consultation with the faculty
members in the departments.
The program fund will be called the Legacy Endowment Fund. The
income from the Legacy Endowment Fund would be used to support on- and
off-campus programs and activities for Black students such as, but not
limited to, the Black Students Association, the Men of Harambee, the
Women of Images, and other programs, projects, or activities consistent
with the objective of improving the Wooster experience for Black students,
but beyond the range of annual operating budgets.
The library program funds are not yet established. In order to
establish the endowments we must raise a minimum of $10,000 for each
library fund and $100,000 for the Legacy Endowment Fund. The total
amount that we must raise to establish the funds is $130,000. Once
the endowment funds are established, they will always be there as a means
for alumni to assure that their gifts to The College of Wooster can be
allocated in a manner that will better the lives of Black students at
Wooster.
The amount of money in the endowment funds determines the amount of
income that is disbursed on an annual basis. By setting a goal
of $200,000, we will be able to establish the new endowment funds and
provide additional monies to enrich current endowments. Moreover,
the money we raise sends a message to The College of Wooster, Black students,
and prospective Black students that the Black alumni are willing to provide
support. It also provides us with a voice or "A Seat at the Table" to
assure that part of the funds raised through Independent Minds:
the Campaign for Wooster will be used to better the life of Black students.
In the upcoming months you will be hearing more about the progress of
our campaign. Please
be a part of that progress by contributing money to this effort. Enclosed
please find a pledge card for the Independent Minds campaign. Please
fill it out and return it today. Thank you for your support.
» A Seat at the Table
Campaign Form |
