Moravian College InCommon -

e-Newsletter of Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary | November 10, 2011

The Campaign for Moravian begins its public phase

Moravian College showed its pride at a capital campaign dinner.

The Ballroom at the Hotel Bethlehem was filled with Moravian College supporters October 28.

More than 200 friends and supporters of Moravian College gathered October 28 at the Hotel Bethlehem for the kick-off of the College’s first public comprehensive capital campaign—The Campaign for Moravian: Pride. Passion. Opportunity.

During the leadership phase, $27 million was raised toward the overall goal of $45 million over five years. The funds will be used for capital projects, endowments for students, faculty and programs, and annual giving.

“Show your pride, share your passion and seize the opportunity to make a significant difference in the life of Moravian College and our students,” encouraged President Thomforde in his welcoming remarks.

“This campaign is the first time we’ve reached out to a broad segment of the public, and the first to include all gifts made to the college,” said Lyn Trodahl Chynoweth ’68, chair of the Board of Trustees. “Moravian College exists, for almost 270 years, because of the generosity of those who have gone before us. Now it’s our time to give back, to say thank you.”

Students and alumni mingled with faculty, administration and donors for an evening of reliving memories and talking confidently about the future of Moravian.

The three segments of the Campaign for Moravian—capital projects, endowments and annual giving—provide a framework of support to encompass all areas of the life of the College.

As the sixth-oldest college in the country, it’s natural that some of Moravian’s facilities, including beautiful buildings built before the Revolutionary War, are in need of restoration and ongoing care. Comenius Hall, Moravian’s signature building, needs upgrades to meet 21st-century teaching standards. And Collier Hall of Science, although cutting-edge when built in 1971, needs renovations to its labs and classrooms to keep pace with the changes in the fields of biology, chemistry and physics.

President and Kathy Thomforde raise a toast to Moravian College.

Two projects already completed or nearing completion are the HILL (Hurd Integrated Living and Learning) residence hall, which houses 230 students, and was opened in 2009. And what will be the largest fitness center among all Lehigh Valley colleges, which will be finished next month, providing Moravian’s students with almost 10,000 square feet of space.

To meet our students’ financial needs in today’s challenging economic climate, financial aid and scholarship support are of primary concern when considering endowment opportunities. Endowed scholarships benefit today’s students as well as those of future generations.
“College access and affordability is something we are committed to provide to a broad array of students … to help students get an excellent Moravian education,” added Chynoweth in remarks before dinner.

Other endowments include support for an academic chair and various academic programs.

Kenneth Rampolla '79, Campaign committee chair.

Annual giving supports the College’s ongoing needs through gifts that are utilized in the same year in which they are given. The Moravian Scholarship Fund is the most important area of annual giving. Other areas include academic programs, athletics, Reeves Library, the music program, the Career Center and Center for Leadership and Service, all which deserve ongoing support and rely on it.

Kenneth Rampolla ’79, president of Responsive Marketing Inc. and chair of the Campaign committee, spoke about his experience as a Moravian College student and how it shaped his adult life. He addressed the importance of legacy, “It is important that throughout this campus, we develop the next generation of leaders to help provide financial support for Moravian College.”

Gordon Weil, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty spoke about the quality of the Moravian education and its monumental role in shaping the lives of young people. Weil then introduced recent graduate
Corey Koenig ’11, project manager at Aetna Inc. who spoke of his experiences at Moravian and the importance of alumni engagement in the life of the College.

The evening included a choral performance by Vocalis, directed by Paula Ring Zerkle, and a screening of new student recruitment videos.

Vocalis entertained the group.

Among the many notable attendees were Hank Barnette, college trustee and former president of Bethlehem Steel, and his wife Joanne; Ray ’81 and Teri Bishop ’81, co-owners of Team Imaging; Beth Boyer ’78 and her husband Frank, president of Duggan & Marcon; Rev. Dr. Douglas Caldwell ’66, college trustee, and his wife Barbara’ 65; Pat Corpora ’78, former college trustee and president of Corpora Consulting, and his wife Sandy; Dr. Joe Merola ’64, chairman of the OB/GYN Department at St Luke’s Hospital and Health Network, and his wife Beth Ann;
Jim Molinaro ’73, president of Courtney Development; and Ken Yee ’87, president of Square One Capital.

The evening concluded with a toast led by President Thomforde and his wife Kathy, followed by a rendition of the Moravian alma mater. More photos from the evening can be viewed here.

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The Campaign for Moravian begins its public phase Moravian College showed its pride at a capital campaign dinner.

The Campaign for Moravian begins its public phase

Moravian College showed its pride at a capital campaign dinner.