At the HCF Annual Meeting, we acknowledged and thanked members of the Executive Committee whose terms have come to an end, and we welcomed new leaders.  Read on to learn more about these extraordinary volunteers.

Leaving the HCF Executive Committee:

Bambi Putnam ‘76 - Member-at-Large

Bambi has been a dedicated class leader for over 30 years.  She’s also an involved Harvard parent.  She’s been a steady and upbeat voice for the Executive Committee over the past four years, always ready to help, host, and solicit.  We’ll count on Bambi to stay close - particularly as her Class gears up for its milestone 35th Reunion in 2011.

Tom Reardon Jr. ‘96 - Vice Chair for Recent Graduates

Tom has served as a mentor for senior gift committees and led the Recent Graduates Committee in launching the 1636 Society Challenge, resulting in 150 recurring gifts from the Class of 2008 during their Senior Gift Campaign.  He has been a guiding force in the development of the now annual Recent Graduates Leadership Workshop and this year has helped to spearhead the implementation of the Fund’s online outreach effort on our Facebook Fan Page, Supporting Financial Aid at Harvard College.

Katy O’Brien Bordonaro ‘76 - Vice Chair for Participation

In her role as Vice Chair for Participation, Katy has been a constant source of creative strategy, has maintained an endlessly positive attitude, and has remained eager to engage alumni far and wide to reconnect with each other and with Harvard.  She was one of the earliest and strongest proponents for the “Virtual Phonathon,” enabling alumni to solicit classmates on their own time and on their own terms.  Katy has also been a stalwart phonathon volunteer, rarely missing a single event, and has encouraged many of her peers to participate in these fundraising activities.  In addition to her role on the Executive Committee, Katy has been a key member of her class’s leadership team, and has inspired her son Mick ‘05, AM ‘09 to become a fellow champion of participation.

Vice Chair for Participation Katy O’Brien Bordonaro ‘76 and her son, fellow HCF volunteer and participation champion Mick Bordonaro ‘05, AM ‘09.

Don Wilson ‘70 - Vice Chair for Associates Giving

An early leader in recognizing the importance of current-use, unrestricted money, Don is a true champion of annual giving, helping to outline fundraising practices that have standardized and strengthened the Associates program as a whole.  Don is Co-Chair of his Class, on the New York Major Gifts Committee, the Committee on University Resources, and the HCF Dean’s Task Force on Leadership Giving.

Ernie Monrad ‘51 - National Chair of the John Harvard Society, Vice Chair for Bequests and Gift Planning

Under Ernie’s leadership the John Harvard Society has grown from roughly 1,100 to its current living membership of 2,600.  Over his 12 year tenure as national chair realized bequests of almost $333 million and life income gifts of $374 have been committed to the long term support of the FAS.  Ernie is also former chair of the Harvard College Fund and a chair and a member of the gift committee for the Class of 1951 over countless reunions.

HCF Co-Chairs Kate Gellert ‘93 and Steve Waters ‘68 acknowledge Ernie Monrad ‘51 for his 12 years of service as Vice Chair for Bequests and Gift Planning.

Kate Gellert ‘93 - Co-Chair, Harvard College Fund

Kate has been a Co-Chair of the Fund for three years.  Prior to that, she served as a Vice Chair for Associates Giving and Vice Chair for Recent Graduates.  Kate is chair of the Class of 1993, and has held that role through her 5th, 10th, and 15th Reunions.  She’s a member of the Radcliffe Institute Dean’s Advisory Committee and serves on the Gala Committee of the University Art Museums.   She is also a member of the Dean’s Task Force on Leadership Giving, an elected Director of the Harvard Alumni Association, and a former member of the New York Major Gifts Committee and the FAS Women and Leadership Committee.  Kate is a truly exemplary volunteer, not just because of the skill and dedication she brings to the Harvard College Fund, but because of the warmth and compassion that accompanies it.  Luckily, Alumni Affairs and Development will continue to benefit from Kate, as she takes on the role of Elected Director of the Harvard Alumni Association as well as their Co-Chair of Engagement and Marketing.

Steve Waters ‘68, along with HCF Executive Director Charlie Cardillo ‘91, thanks his Co-Chair Kate Gellert ‘93 as she ends her term.

Joining the Executive Committee:

Alan Jones ‘83 - Member-at-Large

Alan has been on the Class of ‘83 Gift Committee for years, and Co-Chaired his 25th Reunion last year.  He also serves on the Dean’s Task Force for Leadership Giving.

William Decherd ‘01 - Vice Chair for Recent Graduates

William has served on his Class committee since graduation, and co-chaired his 5^th Reunion.  He is the youngest member of the Dean’s Task Force on Leadership Giving.  He will be joining Lauren Reiss Frank ‘98 as co-Vice Chair for Recent Graduates.

Joe Fuller ‘79 - Vice Chair for Leadership Giving

Joe is currently serving as a Class Chair for his 30^th Reunion.  He just completed his term as Member-at-Large on the Executive Committee and is a member of the Dean’s Task Force on Leadership Giving.  A newly created position on the Executive Committee, the Vice Chair for Leadership Giving is charged with promoting annual current-use support, advising on the development of the peer solicitation program, and promoting stewardship and recognition programs.  We are thrilled that Joe will be bringing his expertise and enthusiasm to this new position.

Scott Abell ‘72 - Vice Chair for Bequests and Gift Planning

Many of you know Scott from his time as Associate Vice President and Dean for Development in the FAS.  Scott is also a former President of the Harvard Alumni Association and Co-Chair for the Class of ‘72.  He will join Gary Pforzheimer ‘84 as a champion of our planned giving efforts.

Sam Lessin ‘05 - Vice Chair for Participation

Sam has been a member of his Class Committee since he graduated, and he also serves on the Recent Graduates Standing Committee.  Sam was actively involved in increasing the online presence of the Class of 2005 on the HCF Class Giving website.  He will join Eryn Ament Bingle ‘95 as co-Vice Chair of Participation.

Rick Smith ‘74 - Vice Chair for Associates Giving

Rick is a member of COUR and the New York Major Gifts Committee, and he is a Chair this year for his 35th Reunion.  His twin sons, Alastair and Nicholas, recently graduated from Harvard College.  Rick will join Janet Nezhad Band ‘83 as co-Vice Chair of Associates Giving.

Sandy Edgerley ‘84 - Vice Chair for Reunion Giving

Sandy is a Co-Chair for her 25^th Reunion, and is a member of the Reunion Giving Standing Committee.  She is also active with the Harvard Business School Reunion Fund.  She will join Nick Sakellariadis ‘73 as co-Vice Chair for Reunion Giving.

Gwill York ‘79 - Co-Chair, Harvard College Fund

Gwill is a Co-Chair for her 30th Reunion.  She is an active member of COUR; the SEAS Dean’s Advisory Group; the Committee on Science and Engineering; the HMS Council on Systems Biology; the HBS Rock Center Advisory Board; the HBS Board of Dean’s Advisors.  She formerly served on the Visiting Committee to Harvard Athletics, the FAS Women and Leadership Task Force, and the FAS Science Teaching and Research Planning Committee.   Gwill will join Steve Waters ‘68 as co-Chair for the Harvard College Fund.