Foundation: Spring 2022 Octagonian
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Foundation Pages Include:
A Message from the Foundation President
Fifth Annual Day of Giving News
New Foundation Directors News
Foundation Updates
Honor & Memorial Gifts
Since our inception, the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation’s mission has been “to support the educational interests and activities of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, to furnish student aid, and to encourage and develop conduct and traits of character consistent with high morals, constructive citizenship, scholarship, leadership and community service.”
To learn more about the foundation’s programs or to make a donation, go to sam-fdn.org.
Message from the Foundation President
Written by Bob Weiss (Oklahoma, ’75), Foundation President
Get Involved with Your Foundation
Yes, your Foundation. The Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation is the Foundation that you helped create and sustain since 1944, with our very straightforward mission of being there for today’s Sigma Alpha Mu fratres to help with student aid, educational grants, and scholarships. Last year your Foundation provided more than 140 scholarships to deserving students through our annual Lawrence D. Schaffer Endowed Scholarship Program. In addition, 170 Guller Young Scholar Awards of $500 each were awarded to new Sigma Alpha Mu initiates who achieved a 3.75 or higher GPA during their candidate semester, thanks to our partnership with the Sidney & Bobette Guller Family Foundation.
Your Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation has nineteen Directors all working towards the goal of increasing our financial base to be able to give out more scholarships and grants to our fratres. Each director has a position on an array of different committees including finance, grants, scholarships, investments, and legal. However, the committee that everyone participates in is our Development Committee, under the able leadership of Fra David Phillips. While we have an official committee of four directors, each one of us is also on this committee.
Our strategic plan, which coincides with the Fraternity’s 2030 plan, outlines some aggressive goals of doubling the size of our Foundation’s impact by the end of this decade. We know we can accomplish this goal because every one of you understands what it means to be a Sammy.
One way you can help us achieve our goal is to participate in the Foundation’s 5th Annual Day of Giving on April 27th, when Sammys everywhere will go online to give to the cause. Some people give as little as $10, others $100, $1,000 or more, but every dollar donated helps to support important educational programming for the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity.
With your help, your Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation can say “yes” to more!
Fraternally,
Bob
Bob and his wife, Tammy live in Edmond, OK. They have two daughters, Nancy and Jennifer. Bob also serves as the Board President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City.
Fifth Annual Day of Giving
Written by Kristi Tucker, Foundation Director of Annual Giving
Join us on Wednesday, April 27 for Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation’s Day of Giving! 2022 marks the 5th anniversary of this event which greatly benefits our young Sammy members. The funds raised from this event support leadership opportunities such as the Developing Leaders Initiative (DLI), the Chapter leaders Day (CLD), and more.
The dollars raised from this event are so important to our organization! As unrestricted funds, the money not only supports leadership opportunities but can help support scholarships and grants too, helping to lift the financial burden of higher education from our young members.
To invest in Sigma Alpha Mu’s future by making your tax-deductible donation, visit samdayofgiving.org. For questions, contact Kristi Tucker, Director of Annual Giving, at [email protected].
A Special Thanks
A heartfelt thanks to Nathan Margolis (North Texas, ’73), former Foundation Director, who has already made a donation to Day of Giving 2022.
New Foundation Directors
The Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of two new directors to the board, Lawrence “Bud” Wittels, (WashU, ‘78) and Nelson France, (West Virginia, ‘06). Bud, a native and current resident of St. Louis, is an attorney with The Enterprise Law Group, whose practice focuses on business law, real estate, and commercial litigation. Bud’s other philanthropic involvement includes the Board of the St. Louis Jewish Community Center and past Board Chair of Washington University Hillel.
Nelson France is a former member of the Octagon (2014 – 2016) and is a Founding Father of the Epsilon Theta Chapter at West Virginia. Nelson currently serves as Director of Partnerships and Development with Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM). Nelson previously held roles at the Jewish National Fund-USA and Israel on Campus Coalition.
Welcome Fra Wittels and Fra France, and thank you for your willingness to serve! For a complete listing of the current Foundation Directors, visit sam-fdn.org/foundation-directors.
Foundation Updates
Written by Nancy Dietmeyer, Foundation Director of Programs and Administration
Scholarship Program News
The Guller Young Scholars Program is off to a strong start with 61 awards given so far this 2021-22 academic year to new initiates in good standing who achieved a 3.75 or higher GPA during their candidate semester. Those who qualify receive a certificate and a $500 check, thanks to the Sidney & Bobette Guller Family Foundation. The Guller Young Scholar Award was established in 2001 by the late Sidney H. Guller, (WashU, ‘43) past Supreme Prior and Foundation Director. To date, 1,562 Sammy fratres have received the Guller Young Scholar Award, for a total of $581,700 in awards. More information about the program is on our website here: https://sam-fdn.org/guller-young-scholar-award
More than 200 applications were submitted for the 2021-22 Lawrence D. Schaffer Endowed Scholarship Program for Sammy undergraduates, graduates, and several non-members scholarships. The Scholarship Selection Committee will announce the 2022 recipients in May, with awards projected to total over $160K.
New Scholarship & Grant Funds
Loyal fratres and friends of Sigma Alpha Mu have created the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Fund, which will be used to provide an annual scholarship as well as funding for chapters to promote and educate members on these principles. Grants can support activities such as educational programming, workshops, and community projects.
Alumni and friends of the Gamma Epsilon Chapter at the University of Illinois-Chicago have come together to establish the Sean P. Daly Memorial Scholarship Fund, in memory of their brother and friend, Sean P. Daly (UIC, ‘95), who passed away in 2021. Sean was a beloved teacher, coach, and caring friend who touched many lives.
Donations to these funds or others can be made online (note the name of the fund in the “please apply my gift to” field) at sam-fdn.org/donate, or by mailing a check with the fund name on the memo line to SAM Foundation, 8701 Founders Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46268, Attn: Nancy Dietmeyer. Questions? email [email protected].
Honor & Memorial Gifts
May 2021 through February 2022
Contributions to the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation can be made in memory of fratres, family, and friends, and to honor living members. These gifts help to further the Foundation’s educational initiatives to benefit our student fratres. For more information or to make a gift, please go to www.sam-fdn.org/donate. For questions or corrections, contact Nancy Dietmeyer at [email protected] or Kristi Tucker at [email protected].
IN HONOR OF
Zoe Aronoff
By Stuart B. Aronoff (UC-Berkeley, ‘51)
Brothers Who Are First Responders
By Alan C. Thomas (Pennsylvania, ‘78)
Jerry L. Conrey (UC-Fullerton, ‘84)
& The World Champion LA Rams
By James Ryan Robertson (Cincinnati, ‘93)
Delta Theta Alumni
By Yovan Kumar (Stony Brook, ‘15)
Delta Theta Chapter
By Yovan Kumar (Stony Brook, ‘15)
Madeline Florence
On her birthday
To the Andy Dickson Memorial Scholarship
By Elana Grissom
Charles B. Fox (Ohio State, ‘50)
By Patricia H. Caruso
Corey A. Gold (CSU-Fullerton, ‘84)
By Steven D. Leventhal (CSU-Fullerton, ‘84)
Daniel A. Grossberg (Miami OH, ‘84)
By Nathan C. Margolis (North Texas, ‘73)
Marlene & Bennett Harte
By John C. Harte (Pennsylvania, ‘82)
IDEA Workgroup
To the IDEA Fund
By Andrew J. Huston (Minnesota, ‘01)
Clarence & Carrie Kartzman
By Sanford I. Kartzman (Pennsylvania, ‘65)
Alan G. Kaye (Tulane, ‘87)
By Jerome K. Porter (UC-Berkeley, ‘51)
Harvey A. Lash (Wayne State, ‘59)
By Steven M. Lash (Wayne State, ‘62)
Myles P. Lash (Wayne State, ‘65)
By Steven M. Lash (Wayne State, ‘62)
Leland D. Manders (Miami OH, ‘72)
By Alan S. Greenberg (Michigan, ‘57)
By Michael A. O’Neal (Miami OH, ‘72)
Mu Phi Chapter
By Arleigh Marvin Grossman (UC-Boulder, ‘53)
The Octagon
To the IDEA Fund
By Andrew J. Huston (Minnesota, ‘01)
Dennis G. Paese (Cornell, ‘70)
By Matthew A. Sloan (Cornell, ‘10)
Evan A. Remer (Texas, ‘02)
By Margo Gold
James Ryan Robertson (Cincinnati, ‘93)
For Twenty-seven years of Sigma Alpha Mu Service
By Nathan Margolis (North Texas, ‘73)
Richard L. Ruby (Michigan State, ‘65)
By Glenn A. Saltsman (Michigan State, ‘89)
ΣAM 2030
To the IDEA Fund
By Andrew J. Huston (Minnesota, ‘01)
ΣAM Staff
To the IDEA Fund
By Andrew J. Huston (Minnesota, ‘01)
David K. Sergi (Texas A&M, ‘82)
By Michael Abraham
Robert S. Weiss (Oklahoma, ‘75)
To the IDEA Fund
By Andrew Huston (Minnesota, ‘01)
The Wise Boys of Mu Theta
To the Mu Theta Educational Fund
By Jerry M. Wise (UCLA, ‘84)
In Memory of
Joel R. Baker (Brooklyn, ‘57)
By Joel R. Baron (Brooklyn, ‘57)
Kenneth A. Benjamin (Wayne State, ‘62)
By Daniel T. Berkley (Wayne State, ‘66)
Alvin W. Cohn (Cincinnati, ‘53)
By Ronald S. Katch (Illinois, ‘51)
By Stanley M. Lefco (Virginia, ‘68)
By Marc E. Perlstein (North Texas, ‘71)
By Ira F. Selss (Rochester, ‘74)
By Richard H. Williamson (NC State, ‘60)
Sean P. Daly (Illinois-Chicago, ‘95)
To the Sean P. Daly Memorial Scholarship Fund
By Michael I. Farr (IL-Chicago, ‘96)
By Christopher Ferrer (IL-Chicago, ‘04)
By James A. Newton (IL-Chicago, ‘95)
By David S. Rice (IL-Chicago, ‘83)
By Joseph W. Scharnak (IL-Chicago, ‘01)
By David B. Sosin (IL-Chicago, ‘70)
Andrew C. Dickson (WashU, ‘83)
To the Andy Dickson Memorial Scholarship Fund
By Stephen M. Alpart (WashU, ‘82)
By Steven Jacoby
By David P. Kleppel (WashU, ‘82)
Harlean and Brian Elkins
To the Mu Theta Educational Fund
By Brett Elkins (USC, ‘85)
Eden S. Feldstein (Ohio State, ‘61)
By Suzanne Davis
Howard R. Flaster (Buffalo, ‘60)
By Marvin J. Glockner (Buffalo, ‘60)
Ross M. Garfinkel (Illinois, ‘10)
By Jerry M. Wise (UCLA, ‘84)
Marshall M. Gelfand (Syracuse, ‘45)
By Bernie Fine (Syracuse, ‘64)
By Gilbert R. Herer (Syracuse, ‘50)
By H. Lewis Rapaport (Syracuse, ‘56)
Sidney M. Guller (Washington, MO, ‘43)
By James N. Guller (Pennsylvania, ‘81)
By Robert A. Rosenthal (Missouri, ‘50)
James C. Hammerstein (Baruch, ‘15)
By Sanford M. Goldstein (Baruch, ‘65)
Bernard M. Hoffman (Brooklyn, ‘57)
By Joel R. Baron (Brooklyn, ‘57)
James S. Hurwitz (Washington, MO, ‘57)
By Elizabeth Hurwitz
Kenneth N. Ishida (UC-Berkeley, ‘96)
By Derrick D. Chi (UC-Berkeley, ‘96)
Anne Janco
By David A. Janco (Texas, ‘01)
Gary M. Kirkorian (USC, ‘72)
To the Mu Theta Educational Fund
By Brian A. Newman (USC, ‘72)
Howard Levinsky (Wisconsin, ‘69)
By Dean B. Zemel (Wisconsin, ‘69)
Martin (Marty) B. Levinson (Texas, ‘84)
To the Marty Levinson Memorial Scholarship Fund
By J. Bradley Greenblum (Texas, ‘76)
By Jeffrey B. Kushen (Texas, ‘83)
By Florence Levinson
By Ilene Levinson
Jeffrey S. Levy (Texas, ‘81)
To the Jeff Levy Sigma Theta Scholarship Fund
By Jessica Meyer & Mike Meyer
William G. Levy (Louisville, ‘48)
By Alan B. Levy (Miami OH, ‘72)
By Bruce J. Tasch (Miami OH, ‘74)
Jerry Miller (Miami OH, ‘76)
By Benjamin E. Cahen (Miami OH, ‘01)
By Jak L. Groedel (Miami OH, ‘13)
Howard N. Misle (Texas, ‘76)
By Richard B. Horn (Texas, ‘76)
Kevin E. Murphy (Rutgers, ‘70)
By Jay J. Rice (Rutgers, ‘71)
Allen M. Rosenthal (Buffalo, ‘55)
By Michael B. Schultz (Buffalo, ‘56)
Ralph Santiago (Brandeis, ‘93)
To the Ralph Santiago Memorial Scholarship Fund
By Steven A. Wander (Brandeis, ‘93)
Jonathan A. Schmidt (Stony Brook, ‘06)
To the Delta Theta Educational Fund
By Yovan Kumar (Stony Brook, ‘15)
Terry W. Schnell (Texas, ‘66)
By Phillip G. Brant (Texas, ‘67)
William P. Schwartz (Oklahoma, ‘50)
By Sanford M. Goldstein (Baruch, ‘65)
Joseph M. Siegman (Illinois, ‘53)
By Ronald S. Katch (Illinois, ‘51)
Martin E. Sodomsky (Manitoba, ‘55)
By Kenneth F. Sodomsky (Manitoba, ‘52)
James Stephanoff
By Joel L. Altman (Michigan State, ‘62)
Lee Eric Wolkowitz
By Edward M. Wolkowitz (CSU-Northridge, ‘68)
View in this Octagonian:
Message from the Supreme Prior
