Philanthropy comes
in many packages
By Dean Raylene Rospond

Philanthropy is concern for human beings as expressed by donation of money, property or work to the needy or to institutions advancing human welfare. Universities, through their education mission, have always been viewed as advancing human welfare. Colleges such as the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences have the additional impact of preparing students who will serve a direct role in improving health and relieving suffering of the public.

What is the impact of a gift to the College? Scholarships, whether given by individual alumni, friends or corporations, provide financial support to students that aids in offsetting the cost of their education. The impact of a scholarship gift is easily visualized but is limited to those students who receive the award. What are other gift options and what are their impact on the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?

Similar to scholarships, gifts directed to faculty development or faculty awards provide recognition and support to faculty. Richard, PH’74, GR’81, and Brenda Hartig recently provided a gift that establishes a faculty development fund as well as a faculty achievement award. Besides the immediate benefit to the faculty member or members receiving such an award, this gift contributes to retaining faculty at Drake by providing additional opportunities for travel and/or education. This indirectly benefits the students as the faculty bring the results of these opportunities back into their teaching or research.

Jay Langford, PH’44, provided a gift that supported renovation of two classrooms in Harvey Ingham to meet the College’s need for laboratory space. Even before these classrooms are first used in the 2004-05 academic year, the impact is being felt across campus. These classrooms are being used as an example of prototype for a Drake classroom, and the Academic Affairs Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees recently visited them as a part of their June meeting. These new classrooms will impact all students in pharmacy as they were designed to support the Sterile Products Laboratory, Communication Skills Practicum, Patient Counseling Practicum and the Patient Assessment Practicum. All students regardless of whether in the first, second or third professional year will take classes in these rooms.

Philanthropy is altruistic by nature, but the impact can be tremendous. This article emphasizes only a few examples of the generosity that the College has received. On behalf of the faculty, students and staff I wish to extend our thanks to the generous support provided by all gifts.

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