GW Trustee Nelson Carbonell, B.S. ’85, and his wife, Michele, will donate $50,000 to George Washington’s Power & Promise Fund, which supports student financial aid.
But there’s a catch. Half of the class of 2012—roughly 1,129 students—has to open its pocketbooks, too, and contribute to the Senior Class Gift campaign. It doesn’t matter how much each student donates. Nor does it matter where they funnel their funds. Scholarships, schools, departments, student organizations, athletics—they’re all fair game.
“A scholarship made my GW education possible, so I understand firsthand the power of student aid funding,” said Mr. Carbonell, vice chair of GW’s Board of Trustees and founder of Nelson Carbonell and Associates, a firm that aids middle market companies with strategy, financing, operations and technology. “Michele and I issued this challenge to the class of 2012 to spread the message of giving back to the institution that has meant so much to us and to support those following in our footsteps.”
The Senior Class Gift campaign has been a GW tradition since the 1980s. As with each previous campaign, this year’s—led by Elliott School of International Affairs student Victoria Hartman and a team of seniors—encourages the graduating class to unite under the common cause of philanthropy. A 50 percent participation rate this year would top last year’s record of 43 percent.
“Nelson and Michele Carbonell and the class of 2012 are helping us to grow philanthropy at GW,” said Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Michael Morsberger. “With this challenge, Nelson and Michele are inspiring our students to begin the habit of giving to GW and becoming our philanthropic partners as we enter a decade of transformation.”