Kenneth Fehling | Sister Margaret Landry | Susan Larson | Marylou Stewart | Betty-Jean Wrase
Kenneth Fehling Gives to His Field of Dreams
As the University's fourth annual "It's About Us" campaign kicks off, Director of Residential Operations Kenneth Fehling has no need to agonize over the hundreds of funds to which he can make his donation.
In the 1980s, Fehling designed and managed the building of the football field that the Seawolves played on until the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium was erected in 2002, and he was also the caretaker of all of the University's athletic fields.
"I always give to athletics," he said. "It's one of my passions. Football is my favorite collegiate sport and baseball is my favorite overall sport."
Last year, Fehling gave to the Sam Kornhauser Scholarship, one of the four athletic program funds that are listed in the "Stony Brook Guide to Giving." Kornhauser was Stony Brook's gridiron football coach for 22 years until 2005, when Chuck Priore took the reins from him.
During the "It's About Us" campaign, the University's department heads coordinate their own departmental donations. Fehling holds three separate orientation sessions for his estimated staff of 150.
"I tell them how important it is to support the University as well as work here, where we receive not only our paycheck but our benefits and retirement too," he said. "In addition to the athletic programs here, we all enjoy the fine arts programs at the Staller Center and we get wonderful services from the University. My son was born at the hospital here," for example.
Sister Margaret Landry Zealous About Campaign
Sister Margaret Landry said that if it weren't for campaigns like "It's About Us," she might not be able to continue to provide the variety of programs and activities that Catholic Campus Ministry is known for at Stony Brook. That includes programs and activities such as spiritual guidance and counseling, Oxfam America (worldwide organization that tries to eradicate hunger, poverty, and social injustice), the Catholic Fellowship and Peer Minister programs, spiritual retreats, and cultural/diversity liturgies and dinners.
Sister Margaret has been a chaplain at the Interfaith Center for 20 years and is a familiar sight at campus activities, well-known for her passion for the color purple. But her real passion is helping others find or strengthen their faith, whether it comes through retreats, peer guidance, good works, or devotion. She not only encourages others to give through a letter she sends out en masse to the Community of Hope–an interfaith prayer network of campus colleagues–but always makes a contribution of her own.
"Each denomination has its own fund," said Sister Margaret. "Catholic Campus Ministry funding is minimal. That is why this kind of resource is such a boon to us. With people's generous support, we are able to make a difference in the lives of our students."
Charity Begins at Home for Susan Larson
Susan Larson, Professor in the Department of Anatomical Sciences, has made a career of studying the evolution of humankind. It seems fitting, therefore, that she would choose to divide her contributions between the Madagascar Ankizy Fund and her own Department. Stony Brook paleontologists began the Ankizy fund in 1998, with the mission of building schools and establishing temporary health-care clinics in rural areas to help Malagasy children.
Larson began at Stony Brook as a postdoc and has been employed by the University for the past 24 years. "I like donating to these two funds because I know where nearly every penny I give is being spent," said Larson.
Larson is the Departmental representative who encourages donations for the "Its About Us" campaign. "We hit upon the idea when the campaign started several years ago to create a fund for the Department that is flexible. Our budget is tight, and giving back to the Department allows us to do some extra things like buying a computer for a new postdoc."
"I believe in the adage that charity begins at home," said Larson.
Marylou Stewart Turns a Negative into a Positive
When Marylou Stewart, a photographer in Media Services, finished a difficult year battling cancer back in 2003, she reflected on her experience and her life in general. Foremost in her mind was how grateful she was for the foundation of support that Stony Brook provided for her during that time.
Stewart said, "I was extremely lucky because I had insurance, a great job that was waiting for me when I recovered, and friends all over campus who gave leave donations in my name."
Stewart grew up in a family that did not accept her being gay, but the outpouring of support from the "family" she has made at Stony Brook led to an epiphany. She approached retired professor Robert O. Hawkins Jr., who is also her colleague from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Faculty Staff Network. Together, with guidance from the Advancement Office, they founded The Pride Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides annual tuition support to one or more students who identify with the goals and principles of the LGBT Faculty Staff Network, now known as Pride@SBU.
The Pride Scholarship has already been awarded to three students. The group has also recently implemented an alumni outreach initiative with the goal of raising $1 million by 2010.
It's All in the Family for Betty-Jean Wrase
Betty-Jean Wrase works as Director of Field Education in the School of Social Welfare. She earned her master's degree in social work at Stony Brook in 1982 and has been an employee since 1978. Her husband Rich graduated as a history major eight years earlier. Incredibly, their son, Richy, is currently a senior history major at the University.
It's easy to see why the Wrase family would feel invested in Stony Brook. "I think it's important for us to give back to the school since we clearly gain from being here," she said. Wrase contributes to the scholarship fund for the School of Social Welfare.
She said that one of those benefits is working closely with the students. "I've taught courses on West Campus, and I also work with graduate students in the School of Social Welfare. The students are all bright and energetic. This year I work with 400 students in field placements on Long Island and in the New York metropolitan area."
Stony Brook employees like Wrase are often called upon to perform leadership roles in campaigns such as "It's About Us," which affords them a different perspective on the importance of making a contribution.
"Really, at the heart of it, we're one big family-the Stony Brook family," said Wrase.