The Campaign for Rhodes

Last month during Homecoming, we announced a campaign to add $250 million to the Rhodes endowment, in order to support the imperatives of the Rhodes Vision: student access, learning, engagement and inspiration. To learn more about these goals and ways you can help take the Rhodes education from excellent to extraordinary, visit the Development Office site.

Help Rhodes Recruit Students

As an alumnus/a, you are Rhodes’ most valuable ambassador. You can identify promising students with the talent and drive to succeed the way you did. You can share with them the college experiences that helped shape you. Help us build the next generation of Lynx in these ways:

• Refer a student. Use our online form to refer a prospective student to the Admissions Office, so he/she can learn more about Rhodes.
• Be a Rhodes Representative. By joining the RAVE program, you’ll connect prospective students in your region with information about Rhodes.

And if you’re a parent of a high school student, our skilled Admissions staff will gladly advise you about the college search process, regardless of whether your student is interested in Rhodes. Contact Lauren Blalock Sefton ’03 for assistance.

Year-end Gifts

Whether it’s your habit to make donations in December as holiday honoraria or because of the tax benefits, we greatly appreciate your support. Your gift to the Annual Fund provides critical income that covers expenses such as student fellowships and activities, faculty support, infrastructure and maintenance of buildings and grounds.

To ensure tax credit for the 2007 year, please make your gift in one of these ways:

• Charge a gift online to your credit or debit card. Gifts must be submitted by noon on December 31.
• Mail a check to Rhodes. Checks must be postmarked by December 31.
• Mail a credit or debit card charge form to Rhodes. The form must be received in the mail by December 28

Tax-free IRA Gifts

If you are over the age of  70½, you have an opportunity to help Rhodes with a tax-free distribution from your IRA. Between now and December 31, 2007, you may transfer up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to Rhodes. Any qualified contribution up to $100,000 will count toward your required minimum distribution. Pending legislation may extend this opportunity to 2008.

For more information, please contact Sue Matthews, Director of Planned Giving (901-843-3919 or 800-264-5969). For the latest news about Planned Giving, visit rhodes.edu/plannedgiving and follow the link for “New IRA Charitable Rollover Legislation.”