50th Anniversary Capital Campaign: Let’s raise $5 million in one year!
Welcome alumni, faculty, and friends to the fall of 2022. We hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected given all we’ve been through the last several years.
On the good news side of the ledger, this year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the law establishing the Uniformed Services University as our Nation’s only federal health university. To honor this historic year, your Alumni Association is initiating the 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign to create a $5 million endowment by Founder’s Day 2023 – and we need your support! We are asking you to please donate, connect with and inform alumni, faculty, and friends about the campaign, volunteer to serve on the fundraising committee, and reach out to others who can support our students and our mission.
DONATE NOW at: https://www.usualumnibookstore.com/
Our USU curriculum is unique - combining the study of basic science, innovative research, leadership training, and clinical practice in both traditional and challenging environments. We graduate students who leave USU with a strong foundation to be able to address the toughest medical and public health challenges at home and abroad. With additional funding we can significantly impact the overall student and faculty experience and foster connections with alumni. Reaching our endowment goal would allow the Alumni Association to provide $250,000 each year in support of educational, research, social, and structural programs for which funding is limited or not available through military and federal government mechanisms.
The Alumni Association, with strong support from our USU leadership, has been preparing for this anniversary for several years. We obtained recognition from the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. We then were designated the official Alumni Association for USU, allowing us to raise funds for and distribute funds to the University. Following this, we were able to consolidate funds into an endowment portfolio balancing capital preservation and growth.
The SOM Class of 2016 provided the initiating endowment gift of approximately $4,000, accompanied by a matching gift from the Friends of USU. Additionally, members of SOM ’16 committed to monthly contributions of $20.16, and many of these alumni continue to contribute.
In 2017, the Association received a generous gift of over $80,000 from the SOM Class of 2002, the result of monthly contributions since graduation. Multiple individuals have also contributed gifts over the years and the endowment currently totals over $200,000.
Your Alumni Association will periodically request a list of funding priorities from USU leadership and distribute funds in support as approved by the Association Board of Trustees. We are excited to report our first distribution of $20,000 for the current academic year. The Alumni Association Board of Trustees has committed these funds to support student research activities, publication support, seed money for innovation projects, and global health experience travel.
We are asking you to donate today to support these and other programs to enhance the USU student and faculty experience and enhance our graduates’ ability to achieve their maximum potential as future leaders of our Nation’s medical services. Endowment grants will serve the needs of students by covering costs that standard funds are unable to support, and ultimately create what some colleges refer to as “margin of excellence” programs that students recognize and appreciate. The grants will support students from all USU schools.
We currently have over 12,000 alumni, so if everyone gives just $500.00 we will exceed our 50th Anniversary capital campaign goal. With a participation rate of 20% an average donation of $2500.00 – an amount that would fund a student’s travel for an academic presentation, as an example – will allow us to reach our goal. Please consider a donation today to support our students.
As you consider how much you can afford to donate, please note that many of our SOM 2016 young alumni (O-3/O-4) have already contributed more than $1400 each over the past six years and continue to send monthly contributions.
DONATE NOW at: https://www.usualumnibookstore.com/
Thank you very much for your consideration,
Leon Moores (SOM ‘90), President
Ellen DeNigris (SOM ‘85), Executive Director
Vanita Ahuja (SOM ’95), Secretary
Alicea Mingo (SOM ’04), Treasurer
Eric Gessler (SOM ’94)
Sandra Yerkes (SOM ’80)
Mike Oshiki (SOM ’98)
James A. Geiling (SOM ’82)
Dave Elkins (SOM ’89)
Holly Archer (GSN ’15)
David Polly (SOM ’85), Fundraising Chair
WAYS TO GIVE:
Online: please visit the USUAA Bookstore website at https://www.usualumnibookstore.com/ to make a secure online donation. For donations greater than $2000 please consider allowing us to avoid transaction fees and reach out to usuaatreasurer@gmail.com or drleonmoores@hotmail.com
Donor-Advised Fund: we are happy to arrange receipt of donor advised funds – please contact us at usuaatreasurer@gmail.com or drleonmoores@hotmail.com
Matching Gifts: if applicable please consider asking your employer for a matching gift.
Securities: please notify us in advance if you desire to transfer securities. Contact USUAA for more information at usuaatreasurer@gmail.com or drleonmoores@hotmail.com
IRA Rollovers: if you are 70 ½ or older you can transfer up to $100,000 from an individual retirement account without being subject to income taxes on the distribution. For more information, please contact usuaatreasurer@gmail.com or drleonmoores@hotmail.com
Estate planning: if you would like to consider including the USU 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign in your estate plans please contact us at: usuaatreasurer@gmail.com or drleonmoores@hotmail.com
In addition to individual contributions, many classes have residual class funds. Please consider transferring those funds to the endowment to help us reach our 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign goal.
The USU Alumni Association is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, and your contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please refer questions to your tax adviser.