1943 Fund Rolls On
THE 1943 ALUMNI FUND continued to roll impressively along during the past month, and on April 19 had reached the mark of $93,000 from 4,100 contributors. It was not until May 29 last year that the $93,000 figure was reached, and then it took 4,736 gifts to add up to that sum—a comparison which needs to be qualified, however, by the fact that this year's campaign began at a much earlier date.
The increased gifts this year do not need to be qualified and are a highlight of the 1943 Fund. Henry E. Atwood '13, Alumni Fund chairman, reported at New York and Boston meetings in April that increased gifts to date were outnumbering the decreases by five to one, a ratio which continues to prevail. These increases are coming from young men in the service as well as from older alumni, he stated. The generosity of the younger graduates and the letters that accompany their gifts are the outstanding feature of the 1943 Fund, and the MAGAZINE is continuing to publish as many of these communications as possible in its section, "From the Mailbag."
Following the meetings with class agents in New York and Boston on April 3 and 10, respectively, the Fund Committee set $200,000 as a minimum goal for the 1943 campaign. This is a sum which was nearly reached last year and its achievement will carry the Fund into a history-making bracket. Only 1175,000 of this year's objective has been divided up into class quotas, since it is anticipated that about $25,000 will be received from parents, friends, and other sources.
The Alumni Fund report of April 19 listed four classes which have already surpassed their quotas. These were led by 1887 with 278% and also included 1901 with 260%, 1888 with 138% and 1906 with 104%. The Class of 1901, under Harry B. Gilmore, not only has the greatest cash total to date, $4,991, but also has 127% of contributors for a phenomenal record at this early stage of the campaign which runs until June go.
In his talks to class agents, Mr. Atwood reminded them that alumni can, if they wish, kill two birds with one stone by presenting War Bonds as their Alumni Fund contributions. The new second War Loan Treasury Bonds in denominations of $500 and up are entirely negotiable and can be held by the College in any amount. The F and G bonds can also be presented to the College, but care should be taken that they are properly made out to: Trustees of Dartmouthmouth College, A Corporation, Hanover,New Hampshire. The E bonds cannot be held by a corporation, but alumni may during the period between now and June 30 arrange to have E bonds converted into F and G bonds made out to the Trustees of Dartmouth College, as noted above.
Mr. Atwood also discussed the financial problems of the College and made the point that the 1943 Alumni Fund must to some extent look beyond the current year and make provision for the greater problems that lie immediately ahead. He expressed surprise that a few alumni had inquired of the Fund Committee whether there would be a 1943 Fund campaign in view of the Navy's being in Hanover. The departure of Dartmouth undergraduates, which has made room for the Navy, has already reached 65% and will soon go as high as 80%, he declared, and with approximately half of the College's annual income received from students, the Fund has become all the more essential in College plans.
One of the main problems, Mr. Atwood pointed out, was to obtain gifts to make up for those of the 5,500 men in service who will be entirely out of reach this year.
ALUMNI FUND CHAIRMANHenry E. Atwood 'I3, Minneapolis, hasbeen reelected to the Alumni Council bythe alumni of District IV and will againserve next year as chairman of the Council's important Alumni Fund Committee.
