Welcome to Raising Montana, The University of Montana Foundation's online newsletter.
Raising Montana is designed to help keep you informed of UM Foundation news, and to showcase the partnership between the University's loyal supporters and UM students, faculty and staff.
Last summer's dramatic fire on Mt. Sentinel burned nearly 400 acres, but it also sparked community philanthropy. Volunteers gave Mother Nature a helping hand and now, where there was a shadow of black is a blanket of green.
In November, before the snow began arriving, Marilyn Marler, a natural areas specialist with The University of Montana and Morgan Valliant, conservation lands manager for the city of Missoula, gathered around 100 volunteers to spread about 3,000 pounds of native grass and flower seed on the burned area.
"The money for the seeds was all donations and grants," said Marler, adding that they received contributions from $5 to $2,500, from a wide cross-section of Missoula. Included in this successful community effort was one donation in particular that pulled on Marler's heartstrings and is proof that philanthropists come in all sizes.
To read more, click here.
(from left to right)sisters: Eliana, 7, Thalia, 3 (seated on table), and Antigone Lambros, 9, with their friend Estrella Pallis-Bonadurer, 7
The University of Montana Foundation has completed a fundraising program developed to support endowed scholarships at The University of Montana, successfully meeting a goal to help up to 1,000 students whose endowed scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year were threatened by the economic downturn.
The program, "1,000 Promises to Keep," was launched in December by the UM Foundation, UM Alumni Association and University Relations. The success of the fundraising program, combined with a portion of contributions from the UM license plate program, ensured that it will be possible to award every privately funded scholarship for the fall '09 semester.
"Hundreds of generous supporters stepped forward in recent months to help keep our students in the classroom," said Laura Brehm, UM Foundation president and CEO. "UM students work hard to achieve their academic goals, and we can say we are doing everything possible to keep them in the classroom."
Deborah Doyle McWhinney, co-chair with Pat Risken of the fundraising program, said, "When we launched ‘1,000 Promises to Keep,' we made a commitment to support our students and not let the economy delay their educations. We met our objective, and all of us should take great pride in that accomplishment. This effort would not have been possible without the generous contribution of our many friends."
More than 500 endowed scholarships will be supported by funds raised during the program. The value of most scholarships at UM is between $500 and $2,000 per semester. Many students receive several scholarships through different endowed funds to pay tuition and expenses.
Through a statewide media relations strategy that included a series of public service announcements, news releases, guest editorials in newspapers, advertising, direct mail and email solicitations, 1,000 Promises to Keep also raised awareness for the UM Foundation mission and the critical need for private support.
James and Joy Mariska joined other President's Club and Heritage Society members at a recent outreach event in Billings.
This community-conscious couple draws support for UM in their part of the state by organizing everything from fundraisers, dinners and benefits to a tailgate party for a Grizzly football scrimmage.
When the Mariska's found out that student scholarships were at risk due to the recent downturn in the economy, they contributed to the 1,000 Promises to Keep program. James also helped spread the word about the program in a letter to the editor of the Billings Gazette. Following is an excerpt from his letter:
"If a UM student does not have enough money to stay in school, you may ask, why is this my problem? Perhaps there will be one less great teacher at your granddaughter's school or one less researcher working toward a cure for cancer. We are all connected by the success of our state's students. When a Montana athlete makes it to the national scene, we all share a common pride. And when a Montana student achieves success, that same pride reverberates from Ekalaka to Eureka."
The UM Foundation owes a big thanks to this dynamic duo for their continued support.
On a recent night about midway through the Spring Phonathon for The University of Montana Foundation's Excellence Fund, student callers took quick breaks from their work.
With ‘80s music playing in the background to help set the stage and to provide motivation, students on this particular "theme night" came dressed in clothing from three decades ago and delivered one of the most productive nights of the season in a race for pledges in the basement of Corbin Hall.
"They make it really fun with games and a friendly, motivating environment," said Victoria de Onis, 19, a Bozeman freshman majoring in finance and Spanish. "It makes our evenings more of a social thing than a job."
Victoria is one of about 30 students who serve as University ambassadors and build rapport as they call alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff and other donors across the country. Their jobs are to be professional and courteous representatives of UM while they instill or renew people's commitments to annual gift giving.
Phonathon staffer Courtney Lacy
This year's phonathon raised about $240,000. The phonathon began in 1988 and is crucial for funding vital services not covered by fees and tuition, said Sarayl Yellowhorse, assistant director of annual giving for the UM Foundation.
To read more, click here.
Dan Stusek walked into the social hour at a local pub in Missoula not knowing what to expect. By the time he left two hours later, he said he was committed to the cause - giving back to The University of Montana - his soon-to-be alma mater and the university that provided the skills he will need to succeed in life.
"I hope the word gets out and more students will see the need for private support at The University of Montana," he said. "I've had some of the best years of my life here and I know that I'll always be committed to helping the University in any way I can."
Stusek, a political science major considering law school, was one of about 40 UM seniors who attended this year's kickoff of Senior Challenge, a student-run fundraising effort to raise awareness among seniors for the need for private financial support at the University.
To read more, click here.
Senior Challenge Chair Erin Miller (center) with committee members Marcey White and Mike Ashworth
The University of Montana Foundation elected four members to its Board of Trustees following its fall 2008 meeting.
The trustees will serve until the fall of 2011, and they are already providing guidance, advocacy and support of the UM Foundation's mission. From their diverse backgrounds, they will contribute valuable expertise and insight to the UM Foundation Board of Trustees and staff.
The four trustees and the UM Foundation committees on which they serve are: Michael "Mike" McDonough (Investment Committee), Bruce Crocker (Investment Committee), James A. "Jim" Coté (Marketing and Communications Committee), and Mary Noel Olson (Marketing and Communications Committee).
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At age 90, Col. Sam Roberts still likes opening doors - with actions and words.
In 1998, Roberts and his wife, Kathleen, created a $100,000 charitable gift annuity at The University of Montana, which established a military science scholarship at his alma mater. Since then, dozens of students have attended UM and joined the military thanks to the Roberts' ROTC scholarship.
"I'm quite aware of the fact that we've had some great leaders who came out of the military - starting with George Washington," Roberts said. "I've seen some wonderful people who really want a chance to advance themselves and help others. That benefits the school, the city and the state of Montana."
The self-effacing Roberts, who has been an active member of the UM President's Advisory Board since 1995, had a storied career in the military, serving in the Air Force during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.
To read more, click here.
In this photo taken in the late ‘40s after World War II, Colonel Sam A. Roberts-at that time a major in the U.S. Air Force-sits at his desk at the Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas. Colonel Roberts served as provost marshal and acting deputy commander at the base.
The concept of "planned giving" is often misunderstood. In the simplest terms, planned giving can best be viewed as a way to make a charitable gift now or after your lifetime, while enjoying the financial benefits of giving today. Planned gifts are sometimes referred to as "stop-and-think" gifts because they require some planning and, often, help from professional advisors.
A misconception is that planned giving is only for the wealthy. The truth is, even people of modest means can make a difference through planned giving. Any planned gift can be made with cash, but many are made with stock, real estate, life insurance policies, retirement assets, and even artwork or business interests.
Planned gifts can provide donors and their families with a variety of benefits including:
Heritage Society member Dr. Bill Gabriel with UM Foundation's Director of Gift Planning Theresa Timms Boyer at Scotty's Table in Missoula.
Student performers Amy Heard, vocalist, and Brenna Hyvonen, pianist, at the Missoula Business Drive and For UM for Us campaign celebration in the Masquer Theatre.
Hal Reading and Ken Stein at President's Club and Heritage Society luncheon at Buffalo Hill Golf Club in Kalispell
President's Club members Pat and Don Simmons with UM Foundation Director of Annual Giving, Krista Frederikson
UM Foundation
P.O. Box 7159
Missoula, MT
59807-7159
