CHAIR'S MESSAGE

Numbers and data tell us a great deal about the success of DECLARE: The Campaign for CSULB. Yet, as impressive and important as these metrics are, they don’t actually tell the whole story of the university’s first major fundraising campaign.  And, while some of our campaign accomplishments may be harder to quantify, that doesn’t make them any less significant.  I want to take a moment to mention one of these “under the radar” successes: the expansion of volunteer leadership opportunities at The Beach.

The increase in volunteerism here at CSULB should make us all proud.  During the DECLARE campaign, we expanded volunteer leadership opportunities, most significantly through the establishment of the CSULB 49er Foundation.  The university depends increasingly on private support, and the creation of the nonprofit 49er Foundation four years ago has facilitated a more focused approach to promoting philanthropy and managing donated resources.  The 49er Foundation played a key role in our campaign success, as did college- and unit-based leadership groups such as the Dean’s Advisory Council in the College of Engineering and the Long Beach State Athletics Director’s Circle (to name just two).

On behalf of CSULB, I want to express my deep gratitude to allof our university’s volunteers.  And I’d like to personally thank all of our 49er Foundation board members, past and present.  In particular, I want to recognize our dedicated Campaign Committee, chaired by board member Mort Stuhlbarg.  We would certainly not be where we are today without his leadership and this group’s extraordinary efforts and dedication.

Go Beach … and Go Volunteers!

 

Sincerely,

Beverly O’Neill ’52, ’57  

Board Chair