Over the past few months I have frequently been asked by our alumni and friends, “ How has the September 11 tragedy affected giving at our College?” Obviously, charitable organizations have been affected as a whole not only by the terrorists attacks, but also by a slumping economy. But how?

Immediately following the tragedy, there was an outpouring of philanthropic efforts. Surveys show that donors view these contributions as over and above their normal giving. According to an Independent Sector poll released just four weeks after the tragedy, 70 percent of Americans reported charitable involvement in some way: 58 percent gave money to charities, 13 percent gave blood and 11 percent gave time. I think this is phenomenal and is indicative of the generous hearts of Americans. The hearts of FACS donors beat with this same generosity.

Our most active period of donations is in November and December as people make their year- end gifts anticipating tax deductions. We did, however, see similar trends to those reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education, which stated that giving to academic institutions dropped 30- 40 percent in October of 2001. But overall, we saw no negative change in gifts for 2001 for our College.

As our phonathon program wraps up this month, we are encouraged that we are meeting and perhaps exceeding last year’s totals in new pledges. Indeed, donors to our College may have increased their gifts as a result of the tragedy recognizing how important it is to invest in the things we do.

Nationwide, wealthier donors have sensed what a lagging economy could mean to charities and are pitching in with bigger gifts. For example, at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, the trustees wrote handwritten notes and identified 300 potential new donors which led to a 29 percent increase over the 2000 fund campaign.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga received a pledge of $ 25 million from a local resident. This unrestricted gift is the largest gift an individual has made to a public college or university in Tennessee.

Looking ahead, we may have reason to be concerned about the support that comes from foundations and corporations. The weak economy and stock- market declines have shrunk foundation and corporate assets, while the economy’s troubles have cut into government budgets. In this context, your individual and collective support is needed now more than ever.

Bottom line: The individual is and always will be our greatest source of support. We are seeing leaders emerge within our alumni base because they know that it’s time for leadership. It isn’t surprising that over 200 people gave to our new International Study Award fund honoring Dean Sharon Nickols or that she along with her husband, Sam, are creating an endowment on their own. Former Dean Emily Pou left her legacy through a scholarship endowment as well as in other ways. Former faculty members such as Drs. Elizabeth Sheerer, Roy Martin, Jim Peifer, Dick Endsley and Esther Maddux continue to show leadership through their donations to established endowments.

June and Bill Flatt are creating a charitable gift annuity to benefit our College. Ray and Jean Griffeth Bauerband joined the Presidents Club for the first time this year. Bonnie Stephens Petersen and her husband, Clark, became Legislative Aide donors at a significant level. There are MANY of you who have increased your support in various ways, some through money, some through time. You know that you are making a difference with each step and you sense the need to give at a maximum level.

Leadership emerges when needs arise. In uncertain times, it’s heart warming to watch leaders emerge among our own alumni. Now is the time to consider establishing that endowment you have dreamed of, creating or updating your will and including the College in those plans, or simply substantially increasing your gift over last year. We need more leaders, won’t you join us?

Katrina L. Bowers is Director of Development and Alumni Relations for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. For more information on how to give a current or deferred gift, please contact Katrina at ( 706) 542- 4946, by email at kbowers@ fcs. uga. edu, or write to her at FACS, 224 Dawson Hall, UGA, Athens, GA 30602.