News & Events
“It is appropriate to start giving now when we are most directly tied to our experience at W&L.” - Rex Riefler ’23
As the Class of 1998 25th reunion committee was racing toward the finish line to reach their goal for their reunion gift, Jess Cohen had a sudden inspiration. Cohen, who provides staff support for the committee, approached co-chairs Melissa New ‘98 and Colin Connolly ‘98 with the idea of challenging the Class of 2023 to see which class could achieve the highest participation rate in last year’s Annual Fund. The committee immediately embraced the idea.
“We wanted to start this because when the Class of 2023 is in their 25th reunion, the Class of 1998 will be in their 50th,” Cohen said. “They will experience those major milestones together. We were thinking of ways to create continuity, for these alumni to start a lifelong connection.”
Tahri Phillips and Rex Riefler, co-chairs of the Class of 2023 senior gift committee, were all in. “Tahri and Rex responded and got everyone fired up. They are youthful, fun — and competitive,” New recalled. “It really came out of nowhere for us. We were excited about the chance to interact with students. It was fun to think about the student experience today and to secure that experience for students in the future.”
The challenge was launched with a video featuring New, who asked the Class of 2023 to take up one last challenge as seniors and to engage with her class to reach 50% participation. The seniors rose to the occasion.
“A huge part of our success was the energetic and enthusiastic senior gift committee,” said Riefler. “We had 35 agents doing the outreach. The students didn’t need much buzz. It was the culmination of outreach throughout the year. We sent two class-wide emails introducing the challenge, and then it was mostly accomplished through social media and talking to friends.”
Phillips reached out to her fellow Johnson Scholars to donate to the challenge, emphasizing the significant impact philanthropy has on student opportunities. “I talked about what freedom we get from this support,” she explained. “It is not just a financial benefit; you don’t have to second guess whether you can go on a career trip or take an internship. I had an incredible internship that was the impetus for my career. It was unpaid the first summer, and I’m not sure it would have been as feasible for me without support from W&L.”
Phillips’ career path is now taking her to Oxford University, where she began her studies this fall as W&L’s 18th Rhodes Scholar.
An added incentive for the students to participate was an invitation to meet members of the 25th reunion class at a special event during Alumni Weekend. “At the event, the first people I saw was a group of adorable seniors,” New recalled. “They talked about life on campus. They were very similar to who we were 25 years ago. We will see them at every reunion from now on. It is fun to think we’ll be able to follow them, as we met them just as they were getting started as alumni.”
Connolly was also pleased to see the connections that developed. “One of the hallmarks of W&L is how engaged the alumni base is with current students,” he said. “This event helped build a bridge for students as they graduate from college into professional roles. A lot of comradery was quickly established between us and the students. W&L is always evolving and innovating, but one thing is consistent — the quality of the people. There is a shared culture and core values, which are consistently positive trademarks of W&L students.”
The students were equally impressed. “Interaction with the alums was awesome,” Riefler said. “They had great energy, and it was fun to hear their stories. We didn’t talk philanthropy, just our love for the school.”
The question of which class won the challenge has generated some good-natured debate. The Class of 1998 was the winner as of Alumni Weekend, partly because they were able to count pledges and were awarded medals to prove it. However, as New puts it, the university development office “moved the goal post” to include gifts made by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. “As I understand it we won the challenge as of Alumni Weekend, but we may have to return our medals. The seniors reached 64% participation, and I am thrilled for them,” she noted. The Class of 1998 achieved 38% participation in the 2022–2023 Annual Fund and 44% overall, including their class gift to the Williams School expansion.
Even though the competition was all in fun, the outcome served as an important factor in the success of the Annual Fund campaign, which met its $10.25 million goal for 2022–23. “The Annual Fund is the way most people participate in philanthropy at Washington and Lee each year,” said Sydney Cross, director of Annual Giving. “It reaches all levels. Whether it is a $5 gift or a $25,000 gift, it is important. The gifts have collective impact on our operating budget and the W&L experience. These unrestricted gifts give us the ability to respond immediately and flexibly to changing needs. The Annual Fund is the foundation of everything we do to sustain excellence at W&L.”
The senior gift provides the first opportunity to educate many students about the power of philanthropy. Riefler added that although the majority of seniors don’t have the resources to make an impact like alumni, it is all about instilling good habits. “We all love this place,” he said. “It is appropriate to start giving now when we are most directly tied to our experience at W&L.”
Love for the university carries through the generations and is one reason W&L has one of the highest Annual Fund participation rates in the country. “My father and grandfather went to W&L, too,” said New, whose husband’s family also has deep W&L roots. “This place is so meaningful to me. There is a spiritual element to me when I walk on campus knowing that my family members stood on that same hill.”