Tag: giving

Why give back? The reasons are as personal as they are varied. Washington University Alumni & Development interviewed five WashU alumni—including three Olin grads!—to discover why they dedicate finite time, money, and resources to better their alma mater.

Russ Shaw, BSBA ’85

“I think a key reason why I give time to the University is, I had such a positive experience myself. I loved my four years here. The academics were great. The student life was wonderful, and it’s just great, being an alum, to be able to come back and give back to the University.

This is a wonderful institution. It’s a world-leading institution, but it keeps getting better. There is a drive and a vision to keep making it better, stronger, the best academic institution in the world.”

Jeff Rosenkranz, BSBA ’84:

“Education, to Lisa and I, is very important—and not just for our kids, but making sure that everybody has access to education. And that’s a big reason why we support the University, both financially and with our time.”

Lisa Rosenkranz, BSBA ’82:

“I feel like WashU was the launching place for my personal and my professional life. It was the place where I grew up, where I really learned who I was, where I had learned that I could be independent.

My first job in marketing couldn’t have been a better job, and I really credit WashU with giving me that opportunity. I also wouldn’t know Jeff if it hadn’t been for WashU. If I hadn’t gone here, I wouldn’t have the wonderful life I have.”

This Giving Tuesday, we hope you’ll consider a gift to future generations of Olin Business School students. Learn more about ways you can help Olin continue to be a world-class institution for business education.

Olin has a lot to be grateful for: a century of excellence, inspiring students and faculty, and generous alumni who are dedicated to continuing Olin’s distinction as an institution for world-class business education. As our Centennial year comes to a close, we are doubling our efforts to ensure Olin’s bright future.

The $1.5 million Bob (BS ’60, MBA ’62) and Barbara Frick Olin Centennial Challenge will help lay a solid foundation for Olin’s second century of top-ranked business education while supporting Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University.

The Fricks, already generous donors to Washington University, hope to inspire alumni, parents, and friends to make a contribution in support of the innovative, ethical, world-class business education Olin provides to its students every day. This challenge will match gifts designated to the Olin Annual Fund or endowed scholarships, and all gifts will be put to work immediately to help Olin continue its mission of teaching, research, and service to society.

“Barbara and I are proud to show our appreciation and support of Olin Business School through this challenge,” said Bob Frick about the matching program.

How the Challenge Works

The Bob and Barbara Frick Olin Centennial Challenge will match the following gifts (up to $1.5 million):

• 1:1 match for any new gifts of $500 or more.
• 1:1 match for a new, named scholarship gift or pledge at the current minimum of $5,000 or $2,500 for young alumni (available to alumni under age 35 who have graduated in the past five years). You may establish a named, annual scholarship in your name or in honor of a friend or loved one.
• 2:1 match for multiyear pledges of $1,000 or more.
• 1:1 match for all gifts or pledges for new or existing Olin Business School endowed scholarships, facilities gifts, or programmatic initiatives. (Maximum match of $100,000 per donor).

All Annual Fund gifts will be recognized with membership in a giving club. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by US and Canadian law. The challenge ends Dec. 31, 2017.

Click here to make a gift to Olin

For more information, please contact Kent Dunson, associate director of development, at 877-215-2727 or 314-935-8495.

Photo above: Albert Ip, (third from left) BS ’73, at the dedication ceremony for the Albert and Pasy Ip Classroom in Olin’s in Simon Hall in March. ©Photo by Jerry Naunheim

Albert Ip, BS ’73, knows a lot about giving back. He has been volunteering with Washington University for more than 15 years. He is the honorary chairman of the Hong Kong Alumni Club and a member of the Alumni Board of Governors. Previously, he was a member of the International Advisory Council for Asia and of the Wells Fargo Advisors Center for Finance and Accounting Research. He is currently chairman of the International Regional Cabinet of Hong Kong.

An avid volunteer with other schools as well, Ip was recently inducted as an honoree of the Beta Gamma Sigma Society at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s School of Business. In his speech, Ip said: “You and I have been given and benefited from an excellent education. These opportunities were made possible by others who saw value in investing in your future.”

As a teenager in Macau, China, Ip needed someone to invest in him. He knew he wanted to go to university in the United States, and he knew he’d need a robust scholarship.

“I applied to 15 universities in the U.S.,” Ip says. He was paying all the application fees with cashier’s checks. “I still remember my dad saying, ‘Wow, Son, this must be the fiftieth cashier’s check I’ve bought for you.’” Ip recalls with a laugh.

Ip was admitted to several colleges, but Washington University gave him a full scholarship. He enrolled in the School of Engineering & Applied Science where he studied applied mathematics and computer science. Some semesters, Ip took six or seven courses, in addition to working on campus. His industriousness paid off, and he graduated in three years summa cum laude.

After Washington University, Ip enrolled in Cornell University’s applied mathematics PhD program. But after earning his master’s degree, he decided to pursue a career in business instead and earned a master’s degree in finance at Carnegie Mellon University. Both universities gave Ip fellowships, including a monthly stipend, but he regrets not finishing his PhD at Cornell.

Ip started working for Citibank in New York not long after graduating from Carnegie Mellon and moved to Hong Kong nearly 30 years ago. In 2007, he retired from Citibank and started working for Merrill Lynch. Ip retired from finance in 2011 and is currently chief executive officer of Langham Hospitality Investments, a listed company in Hong Kong. He is also on the board of six other listed companies in Hong Kong. Despite these obligations, Ip devotes a substantial amount of time to working in higher education — his passion.

“It’s something that I really enjoy,” he says before launching into a story about a top-listed real-estate company that interviewed a student Ip recommended. The head of human resources called Ip to get his final recommendation, and during the call, the student got the job. In an academic year, Ip counsels 50 to 60 students.

“It’s not work,” Ip says. “It’s like enjoying a good movie.” He sits on the Council of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a McDonnell Academy Scholar partner, and was previously a council member of Lingnan University. He is an adjunct or honorary professor at five universities, including City University of Hong Kong, University of Macau and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Ip delivers talks at universities, both in Hong Kong and overseas. In 2016, he delivered 15 talks, including one at Washington University.

Recently, WashU named a classroom in Simon Hall after Ip. “Unbeknownst to me, Chancellor [Mark S.] Wrighton came,” Ip says. “I said, ‘Mark! I thought this was going to be just taking a few photos that I could take back to my wife.’ It turned out to be a naming ceremony, and I really appreciated that. It was a surprise and a warm welcome, to say the least.”

By Rosalind Early, originally published in WashU Asia Extra, Summer 2017