Gifts Benefit USITT Members

March 2009

News & Notices

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Commissions

Conference & Stage Expo

For the Record

Gifts Benefit USITT Members

Lawrence J. Hill
USITT @ 50 Chair

USITT has completed its third year of active giving in celebration of USITT@50, Securing Our Future. USITT has been able to advance the careers of its members in 2007-2008 with over $29,840 in recognizing excellence largely because of the contributions from hundreds of individuals and organizations over dozens of years.

What are the results of giving through annual choices on membership forms or conference registration? These contributions build the principal that provides dividends to fund student activities, international study and travel, and research grants or fellowships. Additionally, there are nearly 90 members actively supporting the Five-Year Campaign, plus long-term and annual significant corporate and individual support for the Young Designers & Technicians Awards, The Rising Star Award, and other recognitions.

This commitment to recognizing and rewarding excellence is one of USITT's highlights each year. Most importantly for 2007-2008, a total of $29,840 made a difference for 15 individuals in the USITT community.

(1) The Rising Star Award $1,000
(9) Young Designers and Technicians Awards $9,500
(4) Edward F. Kook Research Grants $15,140
(1) Scripps International Activities Fund Individual/Professional Travel Award $2,500

Annual gifts from membership forms and conference registration this past year and the contributions from those nearly 90 members who contributed to the Campaign increased the principal in each of the following funds:

Edward F. Kook Fund (Research)
General Contributions	$2,995
Five-Year realized commitments	$3,025
50% Match Five-Year commitments	$1,512
	$7,492 Increase in principal
Samuel H. Scripps International Fund
General Contributions	$820
Five-Year realized commitments	$1,900
50% Match Five-Year commitments	$950
	$3,670 Increase in principal
New Century Fund (student activities)
General Contributions	$18,001
Five-Year realized commitments	$4,100
50% Match Five-Year commitments	$2,050
	$24,151 ($10,500 directly to awards, $13,651 to principal)
USITT Fund (future projects)
General Contributions	$7,703
Five-Year realized commitments	$11,450
50% Match Five-Year commitments	$5,725
	$24,878 Increase in principal

USITT began to build the principal for a single award over 25 years ago. It is now realizing the benefit of that wisdom. Through mid-January 2009, in the spirit of the 50th year celebration, the Institute has received general contributions, Five-Year commitments, estate planned gifts, fully-funded awards, major cash gifts, and funds from the 50% match which equal a total of $472,509. Three and a half years of increasing the Institute's ability to recognize the excellence of the work and talent of its members is gratifying.

The Board of Directors has agreed to an inducement for the last two years of fund-raising in celebration of USITT's 50th year. There will be a 50% match to any annual gift that supports research, student activities, future projects of the Institute and international activities, to the four funds outlined above. We like the idea of $50 for 50 years, but one doesn't have to be constrained by that figure. We will remind our members of this last effort to increase the principal of these funds as we move toward Kansas City.

During the Cincinnati 2009 Conference & Stage Expo, forms will be available at the USITT Booth on the Stage Expo floor for attendees to make a contribution for a 50% match. Also, look for The Bottle to reappear in Cincinnati as another opportunity for "Securing Our Future."

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