PSU Magazine Fall 1996

TH R $1 million given to Food Management program Portland State's Food Industry Management Program, now entering its third year, has received a $1 million challenge grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust. This is the largest gift ever received by the School of Business Administra– tion, which runs the food industry program. The program provides contin– uing education for managers and exec– utives at all levels of the food industry. Terms of the grant stipulate that the Food Industry Management Program must match the grant by raising another $1 million from the food industry by April 1997. Roger Ahlbrandt, business dean, said the school hopes to raise a total of $2.5 million. Leading the fund-raising campaign are Charles Carlbom, president and CEO of Western Family Foods; Robert Miller, chair and CEO of Fred Meyer Inc.; and Alan Jones, presi– dent and CEO of United Grocers Inc. Since the program's inception two years ago, the School of Business Administration has raised about $600,000 from more than 100 food companies. A three-year, $225,000 challenge grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust helped launch the program in May 1994. Accepting the challenge A Challenge Fund gift of $50,000 has been awarded to PSU to encourage new and increased gifts to the 1996-97 Annual Fund. The gift came from the estate of Thomas Elliott, a long-time Portland metro resident who worked in the construction industry. "This is an exciting opportunity for our alumni and friends," says Donna Schaeffer, development officer for Annual Giving. "The value of their gifts will go up or double, making a positive impact campus-wide," she adds. New donors will have their gifts fully matched, says Schaeffer. Those 16 PSU MAGAZINE FALL 1996 who renew a gift from last year will have any increase in dollars matched. "This gift continues Tom's twin legacy of helping worthy PSU students in need of financial assistance and improving their educational opportu– nities at PSU," says Dale DeHarpport, Elliott's longtime business partner. "It also will exemplify to them his firm belief in the principle of self-reliance in meeting life's challenges." Elliott, who died last fall, never had the opportunity to attend college himself. Roberts scholar named Michael Creighton, a child care advo– cate, is entering Portland State this fall to pursue a master's degree in special education as the first-ever Frank L. Roberts Community Service Scholarship winner. Gary Withers, new vice presi· dent for University Relations, is taking prime responsibility for planning and conducting a program to increase PSU's fund-raising success. Withers was previously executive direc· tor and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services Inc., in Portland, and director of Concordia University's Center for Management of Nonprofit Organizations in Portland. CT I 0 N The scholarship, a one-year renew– able grant of $1,500, is named for the late Frank L. Roberts, longtime Oregon legislator and PSU professor. Creighton was selected from 30 applicants and five finalists. "His academic credentials are outstanding. But more importantly his personal credentials, in terms of dedi– cation to community service, are remarkable," said former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts, widow of Frank Roberts, who presented the award to Creighton. Since fall of 1994, Creighton has worked as a special education assistant with Portland Public Schools. For five years prior to his current job, he was a child care worker in a residential treat– ment center for emotionally disturbed children. People interested in supporting the Frank L. Roberts Community Service Scholarship Fund may contact the PSU Development Office at 725-4478. To date, supporters have raised more than $55,000 toward the scholarship's endowment. Philanthropy briefs: The Imperial Tombs of China exhibit at the Portland Art Museum was a point of interest for PSU alumni and friends July 16. A reception, lecture, and tour sponsored by the Alumni Association and Office of Development drew 275 individuals to the Park Blocks for the day's event. Asian objects of art have found their way to the Portland State end of the Park Blocks. Chinese ceramics from the 12th century onward and a collec– tion of Japanese objects from the 18th century and later were donated to the PSU Foundation by Flora Elizabeth Erfeldt. In addition, a contemporary ink painting by Tae Moon Choi, a prominent Korean artist, was donated by the painter. The gifts, secured by art Professor Junghee Lee, are being used by the Art Department in teach– ing students. 0