LeaderNotes
A newsletter for Foundation directors and friends of higher education in Maryland

Letter from the President
 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

It has been a month of transition at the USM Foundation. At our very special November 14th board meeting and dinner, we honored and recognized the support and contributions of our outgoing board members: Alison Asti, Walter Jones, and John (J.C.) Weiss, while welcoming four new ones (see below). We also paid special tribute to our outgoing board chair, Barry P. Gossett. I have had the pleasure of knowing Barry for many years now, and though he may be leaving his official capacity as Foundation board chair, I am grateful he will continue to work on behalf of the USM in the years to come. 
 

Our gracious hosts, Brit and Patty Kirwan were also honored during this terrific evening for their years of service and commitment to the USM Foundation. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of our board members to visit with each other and with Brit and Patty. We rarely have a chance to connect and engage the way we did on the 14th.

 

As we move toward a new chapter at the USM Foundation, with Dennis Wraase at the helm of our board, it is worth looking back to consider what we have accomplished. Our 2014 Annual Report does exactly that - and I'd like to thank several staff members for their hard work in making this our best annual report yet: Associate Vice Chancellor Marianne Horrigan; Communications Manager Jess Gill, and our long-time administrative assistant, Linda Bowman.

 

As we begin the holiday season, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving. As always, please contact me at [email protected] or 301-445-1941 with any questions or comments.

  

Sincerely,

  

Leonard R. Raley

September 2014 Investment Office Update

September was a turbulent month for stocks, bonds, and commodities, in part due to worries about the pace of global growth and rising geopolitical concerns. Worries about the Scottish vote for independence, the tensions surrounding pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, and the start of U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against ISIS targets combined to diminish the risk appetites of market participants. Central bank policy decisions and subsequent communications also impacted market sentiment. As an example, while the European Central Bank announced that it would engage in a form of quantitative easing, its leaders did not disclose key details, including how much will be purchased and when the stimulus will begin. In response to all of this uncertainty, equity market volatility rose, credit spreads widened, and commodity prices declined significantly. The month's biggest market move was in currencies, with the U.S. Dollar appreciating significantly.
USM Foundation Board Members and New Annual Report

We are pleased to announce that we have welcomed four new board members to the USM Foundation. Our newest board members are Harry S. Johnson, Ralph L. Lary, William "Hassan" Murphy, and Donald C. Scheeler. Their expertise and knowledge will make them invaluable members of our outstanding board.

We have also released our 2014 Annual Report, which features updates on our fiscal year's investment performance, a letter from our outgoing chancellor, and some notable moments of the USM's first 25 years. A Prezi presentation that offers a summary of the highlights of the annual report is available on the USM Foundation website.

2014 Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame

 

The USM Foundation was one of multiple sponsors for the Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame (MCBHOF) luncheon, held on October 29th. The event brought together top leaders in the local business community, as well as state leadership. This year's inductees were Mark Choe, Owner of Mark's Kitchen Restaurant; David Reznick, Co-founder of CohnReznick LLP; Annie Totah, Founder & President of AST Partnership for Brighter Tomorrows; Ola Sage, Chief Executive Officer of e-Management; and Dottie Fitzgerald, Vice President of Fitzgerald Auto Mall. Chancellor William E. Kirwan was the keynote speaker.


MCBHOF is the brainchild of the Grossberg Company's Larry Rosenblum, and its growing success is largely due to his leadership and support of this event. HL Ward and Monument Bank are also lead partners in this annual event. Since its inception, MCBHOF has raised more than $325,000 for scholarship programs at the Universities at Shady Grove.

Chancellor William E. "Brit" Kirwan Receives Maryland STEM Champion Award

 

Earlier this month, the MdBio Foundation and the Tech Council of Maryland jointly awarded Chancellor Kirwan the Maryland STEM Champion Award. The presentation was held at the Advancing Tomorrow's Leaders + STEM (ATLAS) event, a one-day college and career symposium hosted by the MdBio Foundation and Tech Council of Maryland, in partnership with Prince George's County Public Schools, the University of Maryland's Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations and Elizabeth Seton High School. The award was given in honor of Chancellor Kirwan's outstanding service and commitment to supporting the advancement of STEM awareness and education throughout the state of Maryland. Congratulations, Brit!

November 2014
Vol. 8, Iss. 10
In This Issue
Investment Office Update
USM Foundation Welcomes New Board Members and Releases 2014 Annual Report
2014 Montgomery Hall of Fame
Chancellor Kirwan Receives Maryland STEM Champion Award
USM News Briefs
Trends in Philanthropy
Staff Member News
USM News Briefs   

TU-Supported Program Loans Cutting-Edge Equipment to Maryland Classroom Teachers


The Maryland Loaner Lab (MDLL) loans out lab equipment and kits to middle- and high-school science teachers to help them better serve their students. The MDLL is a part of the Towson University's Center for STEM Excellence and serves 10,365 students per year. MDLL offers eight kits that span a variety of bioscience lab activities, including a DNA extraction lab, a "mystery disease" diagnosis challenge, an AP-level introduction to genetic engineering, and a wildlife forensics lab. MDLL also offers monthly lab-skills training sessions that teachers need to use the kits, and travels all over the state to provide access.


 

Trends in Philanthropy

 

Young Donors Optimistic About Future Giving

 

Donors younger than 35 plan to give more this year than last, compared with middle-age donors and those older than 64, according to a new survey.

In the report, several recommendations are made regarding cultivating younger donors. Those include understanding why gift values among young donors are disproportionally low and how to engage them now to cultivate your long-term stewardship strategy.

 

Board Member News

 

Board Director Cary Hatch was recently named one of the Washington Business Journal's Power 100 of 2014 in recognition of her contributions to the media and advertising community. Congratulations, Cary!

 

Board Director Anirban Basu was appointed to Governor-elect Larry Hogan's transition team. Anirban will advise the incoming governor on Maryland economic policies. Congratulations, Anirban!  

Jess Gill

Editor, LeaderNotes

301-445-2743

[email protected]