Thanks to so many of you who answered the call, the 2011-12 Parents Fund for Student Life & Leadership exceeded its goal of $250,000!  During this past academic year, Georgia Tech parents made gifts which ranged from $25 to $25,000. All gifts, regardless of size, are sincerely appreciated and have a direct impact on campus life activities available to our students.

We are grateful to this past year’s Chairs of the Parents Advisory Board Ellen and Louis Wolfson III — parents of Luke Wolfson, ME 2012 — for the role they played in leading the Board and positioning the Parents Program for success.  The Wolfsons and other members of the Parent Advisory Board put forth a challenge for first-time Parents Fund donors, which provided a one-to-one match of gifts of $100 or more. We are pleased to report all Challenge funds were fully matched — thank you! 

In 2010, parents launched a new tradition — the Freshman Parents Challenge — and made a gift to the Parents Fund during their student’s first year. Since then, each fall the new freshman parents work to meet and exceed the goal from the previous year.  Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, all gifts of $100 or more from Freshman Parents will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to the total amount of the challenge grant of $25,000 — doubling the impact of each gift. Parents who participate in the Freshman Challenge with a gift of $500 or more will be recognized at the Leadership Giving level of $1,000 or more and are invited to attend the Southern Social, a private reception hosted by the Dean of Students and Parents Advisory Board. 

Similar to our students, the Parents Advisory Board and Parents Program seek to exceed goals and meet new challenges.  With that said, we are pleased to announce the Parents Fund goal for the 2012-13 Academic Year — $300,000! 

The Parents Fund for Student Life & Leadership provides critical support for student traditions and programs, enhancing your student’s overall experience at Georgia Tech. Since its founding 126 years ago, philanthropy has been woven into the fabric of Georgia Tech, advancing the Institute and providing advantages — in teaching, research, facilities, and student life — that would not otherwise be possible. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to become a part of the tradition of philanthropy at Tech, which ensures that current and future generations of Georgia Tech students will benefit as a result of the generosity of parents, alumni, and friends like you.  Click here to make your gift to the Parents Fund today.