Inaugural Donations Exceed Expectations

Chancellor Marty Meehan with Honorary Inaugural Committee co-chair George Behrakis and Inauguration Sponsor Charles Hoff '66.

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Sponsors and donors to the inauguration of Chancellor Marty Meehan exceeded all expectations, raising $1 million for scholarships through the most successful fundraiser ever at the University. The more than $700,000 in private donations will receive a 50 percent match from the University of Massachusetts system, most going to the Chancellor Martin T. Meehan Educational Excellence Endowment Fund.

Money came in from many sources, some familiar, such as overall inauguration sponsor Charles Hoff ’66 who donated $50,000, and some who have never given money to the University before, such as the New England Patriots Foundation. Costs for the week of inauguration activities were kept as low as possible – for instance, all events were held on campus to avoid rental fees – which will allow most proceeds to go directly to scholarships.

Sponsors of $25,000 and above were recognized at the Inaugural Benefit Gala at Allen House the night before the inaugural ceremony.  In addition to Hoff and the New England Patriots Foundation, these included Aramark Corp., George Behrakis, the Demoulas Foundation, John F. Kennedy ’70, L. Donald LaTorre ’59 and the Lowell Sun.  Two hundred people, who paid $1,000 a ticket or were sponsors, packed the historic home of Charles Allen for the festivities.

Also honored at the gala for being Honorary Inaugural Committee co-chairs were Behrakis, who also co-chaired the recently completed provost search; Richard and Nancy Donahue; and Carole Ward.  Alumnus Alan Solomont ’77 received the Circle of Distinction Award.

The first person to benefit from this new scholarship endowment fund is Rachel Carnes, a senior who was hit by a truck while waiting for a bus on University Avenue in January. Carnes, who recently returned to campus after recovering from life-threatening injuries, will graduate debt free thanks to the scholarship.

“This scholarship [fund] will play a vital role in shaping our student body in the future,” Chancellor Meehan said during the gala. “We’re going to bring in a more diverse student body, and students who otherwise couldn’t afford to come to UMass Lowell now will be able to attend.”

Member of the campus and local communities contributed to the scholarship fundraising effort by purchasing $100 tickets to the Inaugural Benefit Concert, held in Durgin Hall on Thursday night before the gala. The concert highlighted the many talented students and faculty involved in the University’s music program, and also featured a reading from Andre Dubus III, award-winning author of “House of Sand and Fog.” Most proceeds from the concert will go to music scholarships.

For a complete list of top sponsors, visit www.uml.edu/inauguration. Visit UML's photo gallery for an array of photo from the events.