WESTFIELD – The annual meeting for the Westfield State Foundation, Inc. will be held Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Garden Room in the Horace Mann Building.
The purpose of the meeting is to ratify the actions of the Board of Directors from the previous year, approve the slate of officers for the upcoming year, and take any action necessary on behalf of the corporation.
The Foundation will also introduce new directors and 25 new corporators, goodwill ambassadors who support the mission of the university and assist with fundraising efforts.
“We are pleased to welcome the new corporators and directors of the Westfield State Foundation, Inc. to our annual meeting for 2014,” said the Hon. Michael R. Knapik, executive director for University Advancement. “As we conclude the celebration of Westfield State’s 175th Anniversary, we know we are poised for what will be a powerful year ahead.”
Foundation members will highlight the fundraising from the past year including reaching the goal of supporting $248,000 in paid internships for students with the match from the commonwealth, and the 175th Anniversary Gala, a record-setting university fundraiser. As the Foundation looks forward discussion will be had around supporting fundraising for the furnishing of the new Westfield State Science Center, the first academic building constructed on campus in more than 40 years. The official groundbreaking for that building will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
In addition to its own efforts, the Foundation will recognize the fundraising of the Kareta family, who have raised more than $100,000 of scholarship money in the past four years in honor of their late son Joe, a Westfield State alumnus of the Class of 2010.
During the meeting, the Foundation will vote to formally endow the 175th Anniversary Scholarship, which will be dedicated to Deanna Clark, former Trustee, Foundation member, and Scholarship Chair, who passed away earlier this year.
“We are proud to honor the memory of former Trustee and Foundation Member, Deanna L. Clark, whose decades of service serve as a reminder of the power of volunteerism and community spirit,” Knapik said.
New Foundation Chair Robin Jensen said she dedicates her new position to Clark.
“This is a more meaningful year than ever to me personally, and I only hope to give the Chair position justice in memory of Dee,” Jensen said. “My focus and priority is on how the Foundation can continue to support and improve our excellence at Westfield State, but most importantly putting our students’ needs first.”
