Because you Give

Donors recognized at annual event

By: Terri Carroll '88

“Because you Give” was the theme of BGSU’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy and Donor Recognition Event held on Sept. 17, 2016.

“Because of generous donors, I was able to tell my 105-year-old grandmother that I, too, would be able to attend BGSU, just like she had,” said Meg Burrell.

Burrell is a sophomore from Bluffton, Ohio, with a double major in political science and criminal justice. She is a scholar in the Sidney A. Ribeau President’s Leadership Academy, the undergraduate student representative to the Board of Trustees, a member of BGSU’s mock trial team, and the director of scholarship for Alpha Phi Sorority.

Burrell said she had originally planned on paying for her college education with earnings from her waitress job. “But after a few paychecks, I realized there wasn’t any way I could work enough hours to pay tuition,” she said.

She said she spoke for the thousands of BGSU students who receive support from private philanthropy. “You’ll never know how much your gifts mean to us,” she said. “My BGSU experiences are so amazing and my classes and professors wonderful. Just this week, my professor was interviewed on CNN and then came to teach the class I attend. This is all possible because donors support students, faculty and programs at BGSU. Thank you!”

Nearly 200 donors from all of the University’s recognition societies attended the event:

Leadership Circle members provided fiscal year giving of $1,000 or more.

• Honors Circle: giving of $1,000 to $2,499
• Cum Laude: giving of $2,500 to $4,999
• Magna Cum Laude: giving of $5,000 to $9,999
• Summa Cum Laude: giving of $10,000 or more

Carillon Society members have given to BGSU for three or more consecutive years.

1910 Society scholarship donors support BGSU with planned gifts.

The Presidents Club members have lifetime giving to BGSU of $15,000 or more.

• Founders Society: giving of $15,000 - $24,999
• Ribeau Society: giving of $25,000 - $49,999
• Olscamp Society: giving of $50,000 - $99,999
• Moore Society: giving of $100,000 - $249,999
• Jerome Society: giving of $250,000 - $499,999
• Prout Society: giving of $500,000 - $999,999
• Williams Society: giving of $1 million and above

At the Williams Society level, the following were recognized for their transformational giving to BGSU: Joseph and Judith Conda; Bruce ’73, ’73 and Janet Misamore; Hiroko Nakamoto ’54, ’92 (Hon.), Thomas ’75, ’15 (Hon.) and Mary Snitch.

To hear directly from students about the impact of private philanthropy, visit bgsu.edu/thanks.