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58 Worcester Business Journal • Giving Guide 2015 www.wbjournal.com I am proud to chair the Worcester State Foundation and to support its mission to promote the growth and progress of Worcester State University beyond what is available with state funds. The incredible generosity of donors enables the Foundation to enrich the experiences of students and faculty through scholarships and research grants. These experiences help transform WSU students into strong employees and engaged citizens of our region. The Foundation is grateful to the many donors – alumni, community members, families and students – that help fulfill the vision of inspiring generosity and transforming lives. – Mary Ritter, Board Chair Worcester State Foundation Inc. Future Goals Worcester State University recently celebrated the 140th anniversary of its founding and kicked off Change Lives, a comprehensive capital campaign that will fund key priorities for the future. This campaign and WSU's Strategic Plan 2015-2019 set ambitious academic goals for the future of the university. Priority 1 - Student Scholarship When established in 1998, the WSF scholarship program awarded just 15 scholarships. Now, the Foundation awards more than 300 scholarships totaling more than $300,000 annually; we receive far more requests for assistance than we are able to provide. Priority 2 - Academic Development By 2020, the plan envisions WSU will be more widely rec- ognized as an educational innovator. Academic programs will creatively integrate classroom learning with real-world experiential learning, and these programs will be respon- sive to the identified priorities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the global community. Priority 3 - Capital Projects and Equipment Initiatives in the Strategic Plan 2015-2019 priority include: Ghosh Science & Technology Building, Wellness Center, May Street Building renovations and the Worcester Center for Crafts. Priority 4 - Mission Support The Worcester State Fund — indeed, the whole Worcester State Foundation — exists to support WSU's mission and is comprised of money raised annually through gener- ous gifts from alumni, parents and friends and goes from the Foundation straight to work to enhance teaching and learning. Fundraising Events/Opportunities The University has a busy calendar full of academic, cultural and community events, speaker series, lec- tures and activities for which sponsorships, financial contributions and in-kind donations are actively and routinely sought. Supporters are thanked in promotional and marketing materials, as well as in our annual report. Significant events include: • WSU Annual Homecoming • WSF Annual Golf Tournament • Visual & Performing Arts Department theater, gallery and chorale performance and exhibition series • University Keynote Speaker Series • And many others Giving Opportunities The Worcester State Foundation Inc. accepts gifts of cash, appreciated securities, gifts from donor- advised funds and family foundations, gifts of real estate or tangible property, matching gifts, and planned, deferred and combination gifts. The Foundation's major annual appeals are in the fall and spring, and each April we hold a 24-hour Day of Giving Challenge, this year set for April 6, 2016. The Change Lives campaign appeals and initiatives will encompass a number of segmented approaches in support of our priorities. More than 4,000 donors support WSU with more than $3.5 million annually. Online donations are gratefully accepted all year long at www.worcester.edu/giving Board of Directors MISSION STATEMENT Service area: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with extended student enrollment from the Northeast. To promote the growth and progress of Worcester State University beyond what is possible with state funding. Alumni ......................... 57% Friends ......................... 35% Corporations and foundations ................... 8% Top funding sources: Mary C. Ritter – Chair Craig A. Bovaird '77 – Vice Chair Jill C. Dagilis '78 – Vice Chair Edward L. Sherr – Treasurer Robin J. Quill – Asst. Treasurer Gregg H. Rosen '86 – Immediate Past President Thomas M. McNamara '94 – President & Clerk Worcester State Foundation Inc. 486 Chandler St. Worcester, MA 01602 Phone: 508-929-8141 www.worcester.edu/Worcester- State-Foundation Full-time employees: 0 Annual revenues: $3.5 Million Year founded: 1994 Thomas M. McNamara Vice President, WSU Division of University Advancement President & Clerk Mary C. Ritter Chairwoman