Portland State Magazine Winter 2008

Lokey gift elevates Judaic Studies PROMINENT PHILANTHROPIST Lorry Lokey raised the profile of PSU's rapidly growing Harold Schnitzer Fam– ily Program in Judaic Studies with a $1.5 million gift in August to create a new faculty chair. The Lorry I. Lokey Chair in Judaic Studies will support a scholar of international distinction with expertise in the history and culture of modern European Jewry. "This gift is absolutely transforma– tive," says Michael Weingrad, academic director of the program. "It meets stu– dent interest in the often glorious, often tragic story of modern Jewish experience in Europe, including, of course, the Holocaust. And it brings us a giant step closer to our vision of four, full-time faculty positions in Judaic Studies, teaching about Jewish life and culture in modern Europe, America, Israel, and the pre-modern world." Portland State's program, founded in 2002 with leadership support from the Harold Schnitzer Family, takes an inter– disciplinary approach to understanding the encounter ofJews and Judaism with the modern world. In five years, Wein– grad and his colleagues have successfully launched a minor degree option with courses in Hebrew language and a broad range of cultural, social, religious, and political topics-as well as a summer program, annual lecture series, and part– nerships with other community groups. Lokey, who grew up in Portland, credits his early education at Alameda Elementary and Grant High School wi th shaping his character. In 1961, he founded Business Wire, a San Francisco– based international media relations company with over 25,000 clients. Now chairman emeritus of the company, Lokey devotes considerable energy to philanthropy. He has said publicly that he intends to give away the bulk of his fortune over the next decade. His gift to Portland State is one of many significant contributions, which he and his life partner, Joanne Harrington, have made in recent years to universities in the United States. BY KATRINA RATZLAFF Annual fund tops $1 million FOR THE FIR 5 T time ever, Portland State's annual fund streaked by the million– dollar milestone. Contributions during 2006-2007 increased 20 percent over the previous year. "We are thrilled to see annual support for PSU grow to this level," says Tracy Mendoza, director ofAnnual Giving. "This $1 million encompasses gifts of $1 up to $25,000 from thousands of Portland State alumni, faculty, staff, students, par– ents, and friends." Student scholarships, faculty research, and programs and community partnerships throughout campus benefit from annual fund contributions. "Our heartfelt thanks go out to every person who said 'yes' to a student caller from the Telefund, responded to a letter, gave online, or simply made a spontaneous contribution," says Mendoza. "Ir's impossible to overemphasize the impact of your support." ■ Lorry Lokey, founder of San Francisco's Business Wire, isfunding a new faculty chair in PSU's Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies. WINTER 2008 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 19