The Giving Community

A Time to Say Thank You!

After they wrapped up spring semester exams, Duke Law students took the time to say “thanks” to the alumni and friends who contributed to their academic success and the strength of the Law School. Twenty-two students surprised approximately 500 donors with personal calls of gratitude on May 9 and 10 during the second annual Thank-a-Thon.

“It’s nice to talk to the people who do so much for the School, even if we don’t know the specifics, because we see the effects of their gifts every single day,” says Madison Jones ‘11.

Thank-a-Thon volunteers on May 9:
Rear: Andrew Hand, Brandon Myers, Robert McGuire, Madison Jones, Meg Turlington, Jennifer Feistritzer, Nir Shnaiderman, Andrew Perrin
Front: Dean Brazier, Phil Rubin

Students placed calls to donors who made leadership gifts and young alumni who made gifts during the past fiscal year, as well as to donors who made gifts to the Robinson O. Everett Professorship. Six students recruited peers to make calls. (See sidebar.) Students also mailed notes of thanks to international donors and friends.

Jennifer Feistritzer ’11 has volunteered for the past two years. “It’s just fun to thank people…” she says. “I look around and see how much has changed since I started. The Law Library and Star Commons have made a huge difference, and I have also seen the difference devoted alumni can make to an institution.”

Thank-a-Thon volunteers on May 10:
Rear: Alex Bluebond, Eric Mattingly, Seth Reich, Jackson Eldridge, Madison Jones, Ebosetale Okojie, Abraham Smith
Middle: Meg Turlington, Emily May, Tatiana Sainati, Dan Sanchez
Front: Ellen Gilley, Maia Pelleg, Katherine Miller

In order to prepare for the Thank-a-Thon, students attended a brief training session and learned about the many different funds donors support. From the Law School Annual Fund to professorships, fellowships, clinics, lectures, student events, journals, financial aid, Wintersession, the Dean’s Summer Service Grant, and the Bridge to Practice, many programs owe their presence, at least in part, to the commitment and support of alumni and friends.

Robert McGuire ’11 calls thanking donors directly the right thing to do. “In my life, many good things have happened when someone else has gone out of their way to be generous and it’s important for me to give back and keep the cycle going.”

Alumni & Friends

Hughes gift establishes endowed chair
A $1.25 million gift from Jeffrey P. Hughes '65 and Bettysue C. Hughes WC'65 will create a new faculty chair at Duke Law School.
It Is Our Time To Step Up…
Anne T. Wilkinson Rajagopalan L’86 and her husband Shrin met at Duke while she was in law school and he was in medical school, on his way to becoming a pathologist. Some 27 years and three children later, they attribute much of their success to Duke.
Richard Williams discusses the history of the Paul B. Williams Law Scholarship
Why would a family with no educational connections to the law, to Duke University, or to the state of North Carolina endow a scholarship at the Law School? According to Richard “Tex” Williams, the son of Paul B. Williams, it just made sense given his father's belief in the importance of education and of giving back.
Interview with Abby Dennis T’01, L’08, Reardon-Gosnell Mordecai Scholar
“Attending Duke on the Mordecai Scholarship is the best decision I have ever made in my life,”
For Breisblatt '72, path to Duke was paved by financial aid
Robert Breisblatt recalls conversation about his financial concerns with Dean Kenneth Pye, who told him, "You have nothing to worry about.”

Giving News

Hughes gift establishes endowed chair
A $1.25 million gift from Jeffrey P. Hughes '65 and Bettysue C. Hughes WC'65 will create a new faculty chair at Duke Law School.
Duke Law establishes the Robinson O. Everett Professorship
New endowed chair honors beloved member of the Duke Law community. » more
The Graduation Gala: Members of the Class of 2011 honor peers, present class gift
Tricia Hammond, James Pearce, Daniel Leslie, and Chase Anderson were honored with Justin Miller Awards, Darcy Huang receives LLM award.
Annual Fund matching gift challenge
Donors provide $100,000 in matching challenge funds to encourage Annual Fund support.
Duke AIDS Legal Project receives grant for policy project
Faculty, students to develop policy proposals and educational tools to help people with HIV/AIDS.
Stanley and Elizabeth Star give $5 million to Duke Law
Donors hope to inspire additional alumni contributions to support faculty and students.

Other News

Prof. Fleishman discusses new book about smart philanthropy
Nonprofit advisers encourage foundations to think strategically about their philanthropy » more
Hammond '11 develops program for incarcerated teens
Five Questions for a Fellow: Simon Ascher and Tricia Hammond Work Towards ‘A More Rehabilitative Model of Juvenile Justice’ » more
Hooding ceremony caps Class of 2011's Law School career
Graduates advised by speakers both to lead and to serve their communities.