The Western New Mexico University Foundation celebrated the group of 40 donors who joined the President’s Society during its inaugural year, committing to give at least $1,000 in unrestricted funds annually, with a reception, a lecture, a recognition wall reveal and an al fresco dinner on campus in August.
“This is the beginning of a community we hope continues growing,” WNMU Foundation Director Jodi Edens-Crocker said.
The Foundation created the President’s Society to honor those who demonstrate support of WNMU through annual unrestricted gifts. “Unrestricted donations allow the university flexibility as needs evolve,” Edens-Crocker said.
Some of the inaugural President’s Society members gifted as much as $75,000 in this first year, while many of the gifts were between $5,000 and $10,000 apiece. “These amounts are good indicators of people’s desire to be part of the positive changes happening at WNMU,” Edens-Crocker said.
Each inaugural President’s Society member is named on a decorative wall in Castorena Hall. Designed by the WNMU Foundation’s Kacie Peterson, the wall features copper sheets donated by Freeport McMoRan, Inc., New Mexico Operations and handmade tile commissioned from Syzygy Tile in downtown Silver City.
“These materials reflect the natural elements of our environment and represent the place where mustangs have thrived since 1893, and using them in the President’s Society recognition wall supports the local industry and businesses just as the community supports WNMU,” Edens-Crocker said.
Centered on the wall is the artwork that inspired the establishment of the WNMU President’s Society. Gifted by Pete Nebbia, “Cloud” is a symbol of perseverance through the journey of life and all that WNMU offers the region.
Speaking at the celebration event was Ginger Kathrens, CEO of The Cloud Foundation and a filmmaker whose work focuses on saving American wild mustangs. “The lecture tied together the mustangs’ perseverant spirits and all that WNMU does to educate, grow and send people out to make the world a better place,” Edens-Crocker said.
The President’s Society annual giving club is still accepting members. “We want this group to grow and hope to see many more new members this year,” Edens-Crocker said.
Contributions to the President’s Society may be made through checks made payable to the WNMU Foundation and mailed to WNMU Foundation, PO Box 1158, Silver City, NM 88062, or through credit cards at the WNMU Foundation Office in Hunter Hall. The WNMU Foundation can be reached at 575-538-6310.