PSU Magazine Winter 2000

First Simon Benson award winners honored Simon Benson would be proud. An award in his name went to two individuals who have contributed to the culture, vitality, and spirit of Portland. Paul Bragdon and Jean Vollum received the fi rst-ever Simon Benson Awards at a dinner sponsored by Portland State on Nov. 16 at the Portland Marriott Hotel. Keynote speaker for the evening was retired Gen. Colin Powell. These first recipients of the award demonstrate the same kind of commit– ment to the area as early philanthropist imon Benson. Bragdon, forme r presi– dent of Reed College and the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology, is president of the Portland Central Library Foundation, which has raised more than $8 million. He is also president of the Oregon Garden Foundation and a board member of Chamber Music Northwest. The Portland community turned out to see Paul Bragdon (above) and Jean Vollum (right) receive philanthropy awards from PSU. Vollum was intro· duced by author Jean Auel. Keynote speaker Gen. Colin Powell (right), spent time talking with PGE President Ken Harrison (left) and energy consultant Jack Wright (center). 28 P U MAGAZINE WINTER 2000 Vollum is a prominent phi lan– thropist and the lead contributor to PSU's Native American Student Center. She has al o generously supported other organizat ions, including Ecotru t, a sustainab le economic deve lopment organization; and the Oregon Humane Society. The selection of Bragdon and Vollum, who are both strong support– ers of higher education, coincides with PSU's recent designation as a University of Promi e by America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth. Portland State will upport the goals of America's Promise, a nonprofit organization led by Powell and dedi– cated to en uring the uccess of chil– dren in America. Honorary chair of the Simon Benson Awards dinner were Gwyneth Gamble Booth, James DePreist, Gerry Frank, Mark 0. Hatfi eld, and Arlene Schnitzer. Lead sponsors were Wells Fargo Bank, which sponsored Powell, and Crown Pacific, U.S. Trust, and Julie and Peter Stott. Giving commitments Time, ideas, and energy are what Ann Gardner '77 is giving to Portland State. As a member of the PSU Alumni Board, she recently served a chair of PSU Weekend, the board' bigge t event of the year. Gardner's spirit of giving was born of personal experience. She was a 33- year-old ingle mother working fu ll time when she cho e to go back to school. Attending classes part time meant she would earn a bache– lor's in seven years-a daunting prospect. Her itua– tion came to the attention of an indi – vidual who stepped forward and paid for Ann's education . "This person changed my life and the life of my daugh ter," says Gardner. "Her generosity taught me that it is our re ponsibility to help other achieve their educational goals in whatever way we can." Gerry Cameron '62, forme r CEO of U Bancorp, and his wife, Mari lyn, have made a $1 million commitment to the School of Business Administra– tion. The gift marks the single largest donation in the School's history, and one of on ly a handful of million-dollar contributions ever made to Portland tare by an individual. The endow– ment will support students and facu lty in perpetuity. Portland State's planned Native Ameri can Student Center rece ived two major gifts this fall. Commitments of $35,000 from the Harold and Arlene chnitzer CARE Foundation, and $15,000 form the Jordan and Mina Schnitzer Foundat ion wi ll help to create the center, which will hou e academic programs, cu ltu ral activ itie , and support ervice for Native American students and the communi ty. 0