Foundation Board Chair's Letter

Gregory J. Cleven

"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times."
 
When Charles Dickens penned these classic first lines in A Tale of Two Cities, he was referring to a situation much graver than what we are now experiencing. But even during the anarchy of the French Revolution, Dickens found that human kindness, compassion and generosity won out. His fundamental belief: people are good.

Fast forward more than 200 years to today, as we face dwindling retirement accounts, unemployment, corporate bankruptcies and gloomy financial forecasts. The sort of circumstances one might expect would lead to self-absorption and self-preservation. However, in the midst of this economic chaos, more than 7,100 donors stepped forward to make a contribution to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation in 2008 — thereby making an investment in our collective future as well as a powerful statement about their own compassion and convictions.

More than two dozen new funds were created at the Foundation in 2008, providing crucial scholarship opportunities for students struggling to stay in school. And while corporate and foundation donors funded an impressive $1.8 million in contributions, it's noteworthy that more modest-sized gifts of $100 or less made a combined impact of nearly $250,000.

When I became chairman of the UW Oshkosh Foundation Board of Directors in 2007, I made a commitment to my alma mater based on my belief in the importance of higher education. I wasn't sure how many others shared my convictions,  especially when the financial crisis made supporting higher education more challenging.

But more than 2,000 new donors contributed to the Foundation in 2008, making their very first gift at a time that required greater sacrifice than ever. Now, at the conclusion of my term as board chair, I am proud of what UW Oshkosh has accomplished, and I am buoyed by the inherent goodness of my fellow contributors who recognized the University’s value and mission and stepped forward to play an important role in its success.

I extend my sincere appreciation to all of the donors listed in this publication.