Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends of PGSS: 

Over the past three years, we have succeeded in a most important team project: the restoration of PGSS. This
project has included the following milestones: 

We’re also pleased to announce that Professor Barry Luokkala will return as Program Director for next summer’s program at Carnegie Mellon University, guaranteeing the high quality we’ve come to expect from this program PGSS website. We’re also hopeful that some of our 2008 alumni, who will be graduating from college this year, will choose to become TA/Counselors for the new students, providing connections with previous years’ programs. One of our goals has always been to preserve the institutional memory of the program, so that we can take advantage of all that we’ve learned over 25 years of PGSS, even as we improve it for the future.

To review our good news, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has awarded Carnegie Mellon University a $150,000 grant to operate PGSS in 2013 and 2014. This will provide half of the required funds for a 56-student program; PGSS Campaign, Inc. will be matching those funds with our fundraising dollars. We’ve secured a $20,000 charitable donation from Teva Pharmaceuticals and another $15,000 grant from PPG Industries Foundation. We’d like to give special thanks to alumni Kevin Bancroft (‘05) and Justin Mercer (‘01) for helping to lobby their employer, PPG, on our behalf! Maureen Ryan, our Executive Director, is working to cultivate additional grants from corporations with a presence in Pennsylvania.

These donations are terrific news, showing that we have successfully managed to communicate the value of PGSS to state government as well as to corporate grantors. One reason we’ve been so successful is that we’ve been able to point to the $150,000 already donated to our campaign by over 400 alumni and friends; this generous support from individuals who’ve benefited from the program is a strong positive signal to others of the value of this program. We need to continue to raise substantial funds through individual gifts as part of our long-run fundraising strategy, both for the direct support of the program budget and for the indirect impact it has on our probability of raising corporate and government funds.

The end of the year is a perfect time to consider making a tax-deductible contribution to PGSS Campaign, Inc. We ask you to remember the benefits you received from the program, and “pay it forward” to future students. One key principle we’re passionate about is that the program should remain free of charge to admitted students, to create a spirit of community and inclusiveness for students whose financial means would otherwise not have allowed them to attend. We are creating a culture of giving among this community, so that alumni and parents with means can express their appreciation for the program by making it possible for future students to attend. We will welcome 56 new students in 2013; we are hoping to increase this number in 2014 and beyond. A gift of $5000 will make it possible for one more student to attend PGSS.

Please give what you are able. I have just written my own check for $10,000 to PGSS Campaign, and I’m pleased to say that my employer (Google) will be matching this with an additional $6000. We don’t expect everyone to produce this kind of donation, of course, but I do want everyone to know that I’m continuing to put my own money where my mouth is. This program has meant a lot to me.

As an additional incentive to give a gift of $100 or more, the first eight donations of this size will receive one of our remaining XL t-shirts proclaiming “A Moment of Science!” (I wore my new PGSS t-shirt proudly to yoga class this week.)

To donate, please go to www.pgssalumni.org/donate or send a check to: 

If your employer is interested in supporting STEM education and might consider making a donation to the program, please contact Maureen Ryan at <maureen.ryan@pgssalumni.org>.

On behalf of Maureen and the Board of Directors PGSS Campaign, Inc., we wish you a very joyous holiday season. We’re proud to have you in our community.

Regards, 

David Reiley (PGSS 1986; TA 1989, 1991) 

President, PGSS Campaign

P.S. Special thanks to our Secretary, Janet Hurwitz, for her tireless efforts, week after week, to make sure that PGSS gets back in business. Including making sure that I managed to finish this year-end letter!

On Saturday October 13, 2012, a group of Boston govvies met at the MIT Museum for a self-guided tour, followed by drinks at the Miracle of Science.  The robots, gadgets and drinks fueled much fellowship and discussion.  The group came to consensus that the Boston area alumni needed to be more active, that is, expand our social and networking opportunities, and have committed to trying to get together every few months.  We decided that there should be an "opt-in" for Boston area alumni to make their contact information visible to other Boston area alumni in the area.  The responses to the request to "opt-in" have been great, and we are working to get that list together and out soon.  

Also, we will work to have another informal gathering, after the holidays, perhaps on a weeknight, which will be open to all Boston area alums, "out" or "bcc"d!  Stay tuned!

If you would like to be included on the Boston-area list, please send your contact information to Jen at jsieczki@gmail.com.

We have been in overdrive this summer to raise funds to revive PGSS for next year, and our efforts have paid off! This week brought some exciting news… a generous donor has pledged to provide a grant to Carnegie Mellon University specifically for PGSS in the amount of $150,000 for each of the 2013 and 2014 program years... PROVIDED THAT WE MATCH THOSE FUNDS.

This new pledge is thrilling news. Our total fundraising goal is $360,000 to re-launch the program with 50 students. We have submitted over $175,000 in funding requests from Pennsylvania corporations and foundations, and we are optimistic that some fraction of these pending requests will be granted. If we can raise just $30,000 more in alumni contributions, thus triggering the $150,000 match, we are confident that PGSS 2013 will happen.

But why stop at $30,000? We have set ourselves an ambitious fall fundraising goal of $100,000 by October 7. The first $30,000 will get us to the matching threshold, the next $60,000 will completely cover funding for a basic program in 2013 (even if none of our grants come through), and the last $10,000 will get us started on our fundraising for 2014. We're expecting to run the program in both years, but we can only do it with continued alumni support. Raising a total of $360,000 will fund a program with 50 students; we can push the total higher with additional gifts. After we've funded the basic program fixed costs, each additional $4000 we raise can send an additional student to PGSS!

LET'S GO VIRAL! Donate through our campaign at www.indiegogo.com/pgss and remember to “Like” and “Share” our page with your Facebook and Twitter friends and followers. The more we spread the news, the more donations we’ll get!! Each donation also comes with a cool gift! The Indiegogo site will only be open until October 7th, so make your donation now!

If you prefer to donate directly, we always accept donations via check or via the PGSS Campaign website at www.pgsscampaign.org/donate

As alumni, we all remember how exhilarating it was to be truly challenged by our physics homework, working all night on our team project presentations, and of course, what exceptional square dancers we were. You know the significance of PGSS, the personal and academic experiences you had during your program year, the value of the program in launching you into the college of your choice, and the personal relationships you still maintain with classmates to this day. We’re almost there…. but we need your help! Please take a few moments to review the options for making a donation today to restore PGSS so that future students can take advantage of the same opportunities we enjoyed!

Again….WE’RE ALMOST THERE….let’s get together and round up the remaining funds we need. PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY!!

Regards, 

David Reiley 

President, PGSS Campaign, Inc.

P.S. If you work for a major corporation, you may qualify for employer gift matching. Make your donation count twice as much by donating through an Employee Matching Gift Program!! Contact Maureen Ryan, our Executive Director, at <maureen.ryan@pgssalumni.org> if you need any documentation of our nonprofit status.

About 25 alumni attended, some reconnecting with former classmates, and others meeting new friends. We watched PGSS program videos, browsed through the published journals from the 80s, and enjoyed sharing memories. Everyone was excited to express their ideas for bringing back PGSS, including former program director Dr. Peter Berget, who was kind enough to attend and show his support.

If you are interested in attending or helping to organize future events in Philly, please email beverly.jogan@pgssalumni.org. Thanks to everyone who came!