Challenging

the Class of ’08

Ellen (DGE’70, CAS’72) and Meyer (DGE’70) Koplow

Alumni Encourage Giving Among Graduating Students

How it’s done
Not only is the 2008 Class Gift Campaign effort double that of
previous years,with its new sixty-person committee, but this year’s For the past seven years, each student in
class has double the incentive to give to the program: alumni Meyer and hisorhergraduatingyearhasbeenaskedto
Ellen Koplow will match all gifts during the campaign—up to $100,000. make a gift to his or her school or college’s
annual fund in honor of a BU mentor—but
“I think this is going to be transformational in the way students think the Class Gift Program doesn’t have to end
about the University and how philanthropy can affect the University,” on Commencement Day. Alumni can give
said President Robert A. Brown at the gift announcement. in honor of a faculty member who made a
Meyer (DGE’70) and Ellen (DGE’70, CAS’72) Koplow, who met lasting educational impression.
“GivingtotheClassGiftProgramallowed
at Boston University and married soon after graduation, made their metheopportunitytosendasincerethank-
unrestricted gift to the General University Support Fund to encourage you to those professors who I felt went the
giving among BU’s soon-to-be alumni. “I hope this starts a tradition extra mile in their approach to teaching
me and my fellow classmates,” said Roy
of everybody in your class giving,” Mr. Koplow said to members of the Campana(MET’04),whomgaveinhonorof
Class of 2008 during the gift announcement. “That’s what would truly ProfessorsMikeRuff,JimCormier,andBarry
be a thank-you to us.” Unger and has donated to the MET Annual
Fund and other BU funds each year since.
Now living in New York, where Mr. Koplow is partner at law firm “GraduatingremindedmethatIcouldelect
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz, the Koplows are strong supporters to set aside a little something for BU, hence
of higher education and believe that their education at BU gave them the continued giving.”
“a wonderful start in life,” said Mr. Koplow. He added that, since tuition UnrestrictedgiftsallowtheUniversityto
allocate funds to scholarships, programs,
doesnotcoverthetotalcostofeducatingastudent,everygraduatemust facilities, and other areas of need. Giving
appreciate the opportunities alumni giving offers them. to the annual funds enables BU and its
“Were it not for the prior generations of BU alumni who have given studentstothrive,unveilingopportunities
andkeepingthemostimportantgoalswithin
back and continue to give back to the University, you wouldn’t have reach. To learn more about the Class Gift
the terrific education that this institution has been able to provide to CampaignorBU’sannualfunds,contactthe
you,” Meyer told students. “We hope that our gift will show this class Office of Annual Giving at 800-447-2849,
or visit www.bu.edu/alumni/giving and
and future classes that alumni contributions are an essential element www.bu.edu/classgift.
in making Boston University truly great.” –Alyce Nicolo