Challenge gifts propel Annual Fund to new records; donor and dollar totals exceed goals

Over 27,000 members of the Brown community contributed a record-setting $22.9 million to the 2003-2004 Brown Annual Fund, exceeding the year's goal by $1.1 million.

Charles M. Royce '61 P'92 '94 offered a $500,000 challenge gift if 26,391 alumni and alumnae, parents, students and friends would join him in supporting the Brown Annual Fund. The response was remarkable - both the record of 26,023 donors set in 1996 and the goal for 2004 were surpassed and a new record of 27,278 donors was established.

An anonymous alumnus offered an additional challenge to graduates of the last decade (1994-2004). Under the terms of the GOLD Participation Challenge, he would match these donors' Annual Fund gifts dollar for dollar up to a total of $500,000. The initial response was strong and the alumnus increased the challenge to $650,000 in May. The one-to-one match encouraged recent graduates to contribute as generously as they could. Gifts from undergraduate alumni in these classes increased by 24 percent over last year.

Reunion classes led the Brown Annual Fund's growth. Reunion alumni and alumnae contributed $6.5 million to the Annual Fund, a 26 percent increase over last year. The number of Reunion donors also increased by 23 percent. Six classes - 1999, 1984, 1979, 1974, 1969 and 1964 - set new Brown Annual Fund records for their respective reunions.

Spurred by a challenge offered by Rich Friedman '79, the Class of 1979 raised a phenomenal $1.7 million for the Brown Annual Fund in honor of its 25th Reunion, a 43 percent increase over the previous record of $1.2 million. A major milestone was achieved by the Class of 1974: With a Brown Annual Fund gift of $1.06 million, this class became the first to have its Annual Fund gift exceed $1 million outside of the 25th Reunion.

This year marks the third and final year of service by Jerome C. Vascellaro '74 P'07 as chair of the Brown Annual Fund. Under his leadership, the Brown Annual Fund has enjoyed tremendous growth. Dollars have increased by 52 percent and donors have increased by 40 percent. Thomas W. Berry '69 P'92 '96 will succeed Vascellaro as the chair of the Brown Annual Fund.

Chancellor Stephen Robert '62 P'91 applauded the efforts of all of the volunteers and donors who made this success possible. "What an incredible result," he said. "Thanks and congratulations to all. Jerome is really stepping down as a winner, and I know that Tom is a worthy successor."