Climbing Above the Culture Clash

Law Fund & Donor Roll
Unrestricted contributions to the Law Fund directly enable Dean O’Rourke to address a wide range of immediate
and important needs. In FY09, more than 50 percent of the overall cash gifts received, or $944,418, was given as
unrestricted support to the Law Fund. We owe a special thanks to our National Law Fund Co-chairs, Richard Mikels
(’72) and Oscar Wasserman (’59), who began their roles leading our Annual Fund during this unprecedented year
of financial upheaval. Alumni, students and friends support the Law Fund through a variety of ways, including the
following:
The 2009 3L Class Gift – The class of 2009 held their class gift drive in the spring, raising $2,612 from 75 class
members. Combined with the matching gifts of our generous alumni, Gerard (’62) and Sherry Cohen (GRS ’60)
and Oscar (’59) and Elaine Wasserman, the total amount raised for the 2009 Class Gift was $8,224.24. Section
C led the section challenge with a participation rate of 31.4 percent. Thank you to all who participated, especially
the 3L Class Gift Committee members, Brenda Carr, Ann Chernicoff, Stephany Collamore, Jeannetta Craigwell-
Graham, Mitchell B. Klein, Claire Koehler, Danielle Nellis and Addie Strumolo.
Reunion Class Giving – On October 10–11, 2008, members of the classes of 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983,
1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003 returned to campus to celebrate their respective reunions. The weekend kicked off
with a cocktail reception for all alumni and their guests on Friday evening. Saturday provided stimulating alumni
panel sessions followed by a Reunion Class BBQ, the annual Golden Circle Celebration for the 50th reunion class,
and the annual gala dinner and cocktail reception hosted by Dean O’Rourke at the Intercontinental Hotel in Boston.
In honor of their reunions, members of these classes contributed over $290,000 in gifts to the School.
2009 Law Firm Challenge – The BU Law Firm Challenge had another successful year with more than $508,888
donated by alumni at law firms across the country! The Law Firm Challenge is designed to give alumni at law
firms an opportunity to reconnect with their alma mater, promote giving to the Law Fund in a fun and challenging
way, and enhance their firm’s profile within the BU Law community, especially among future firm associates —
current BU Law students. We salute the generosity of our loyal alumni at law firms and particularly thank the
Firm Representatives for their efforts in FY09. They are: Meg Bailey ’08, Bingham McCutchen LLP; Mark Curiel
’02, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Marian Baldwin Fuerst ’91, Chadbourne & Parke LLP; Andrew Heinz
’05, Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Michael J. Kendall ’93, Goodwin Procter LLP; David Loughnot ’05, Bingham McCutchen
LLP; Daniel McCaughey ’04, Ropes & Gray LLP; Anthony Picchione ’04, WilmerHale; Kathryn Piffat ’89, Edwards
46 | Boston University School of Law | www.bu.edu/law