After a six-week competition involving input from thousands of members of the GW community Power & Promise is the winner of the GW High5 challenge and $20,000 toward student aid.
Steve Ross, B.B.A. ’81, a member of GW’s Board of Trustees, donated $39,000 to fund the High5 challenge. "One of my personal interests is to be a seed planter…to excite people, keep the momentum going and increase GW's shareholder rate," said Mr. Ross, who equates donating to his alma mater with an investment.
The High5 challenge ran from April 1 to May 10. Between April 1 and April 15 more than 6,500 members of the GW community voted for their “High 5.” Career services, GW Libraries, Power & Promise (Student Aid), student organizations and study abroad emerged as the five finalists.
Between April 22 and May 10, each member of the GW community who made a gift to the five finalists counted as a vote of support. As the program with the most donors, Power & Promise will receive $20,000. Second place GW Libraries will receive $10,000, while third place career services, fourth place student organizations and fifth place study abroad will receive $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000, respectively.
On top of Mr. Ross’ commitment, gifts from the GW community to the High5 finalists totaled more than $35,000.
Each of the 23 participating initiatives had a student, faculty or staff champion to help rally support for their cause.
Maddison Bruer, GW class of 2015, served as the champion for Power & Promise, a fund for student aid. “The one thing that inspired me most in reaching out was the positive reaction of students,” Ms. Bruer said. “I tried to educate people about the power of philanthropy and student aid. The bottom line is I wouldn't be here without it.”
Mr. Ross supported the High5 challenge in honor of J. Wendell Crain, L.L.B. '56, who encouraged Mr. Ross to become more involved with GW as a volunteer in 1986, the beginning of a two-decade friendship.
The pair served on the GW School of Business Board of Advisors together from 1998 to 2006. Mr. Crain, who passed away in 2006, was "one of the four or five people who took a chance on me in my life…and I don't ever forget things like that," said Mr. Ross.