NSBE - Fall 2009 - 59

Students, alumni Support ‘Three-Over-Three’ NSBE’s Capital Campaign Gets in Gear “three-over-three” donors, left to right Stacyann P. Russell, NSBE National Chair Stevenson A. Dunn Jr., NSBE National Chair Emeritus Jarrell D. Johnson, NSBE National Programs Chair “Raising these funds will let us focus completely on our mission, instead of worrying about overhead costs in this tough economy.” — NSBe National Chair Stacyann P. russell T he big announcement came during the climactic closing event of NSBE’s 35th Annual National Convention in Las Vegas. NSBE Executive Director Carl B. Mack (“Brother E.D.”) took to the stage in March to announce the launch of NSBE’s Three-Over-Three capital campaign: a one-time fundraising initiative to bring in $3 million over the next three years. Collecting these funds will allow NSBE to pay off the mortgage on its World Headquarters Building, which was purchased in 2004. The first member to step up with a donation in Las Vegas was a 24-year-old Polytechnic Institute of New York University junior named Stevenson A. Dunn Jr., NSBE’s 2008–09 national chair. This year’s National Executive Board (NEB) has quickly followed his lead. So far, Dunn, now chair emeritus, and 12 of the NEB’s 15 other members have made pledges to Three-OverThree. The others are National Chair Stacyann P. Russell, National Vice Chair Jarrad Pouncil, National Treasurer Ayanna Berry, National Programs Chair Jarrell Johnson, National Assistant Treasurer – Finance Control, Jessica Allen, National Public Relations Chair Anne T. Griffin, Region I Chair Calvin Young, Region III Chair Jessica Nance, Region V Chair Paul Nguyen, Region VI Chair Kadeem Omidiji, National Finance Chair Michael Owens and National Communications Chair Akaninyene Udoeyop. “I am totally committed to the success of this campaign,” says Russell, 23, NSBE’s 2009–10 National Chair. “Raising these funds will let us focus completely on our mission, instead of worrying about overhead costs in this tough economy. Having a headquarters that is truly our own will allow us to be proactive in our planning.” The campaign is getting a boost from two current initiatives. The Three-Over-Three Regional Challenge runs from Aug. 1, 2009 through Annual Convention 2010. It offers bragging rights to the region that brings in the most money and the region that brings in the most donors. And donations to Three-Over-Three can now be made on NSBE Online (NOL) during the membership sign-up process. Small contributions from NSBE’s collegiate and NSBE Jr. members will be critical to the success of the campaign, as pledges and donations from the more well-heeled NSBE alumni continue to come in, says NSBE Chief Development Officer Nadine Dennis. NSBE National Advisory Board Chair Tony Harris pledged the top-level gift of $75,000 at the convention — $25,000 each year for three years. Also during the Las Vegas event, NSBE Lifetime Member Reginald Van Lee, senior vice president for Booz Allen Hamilton, pledged $10,000 to Three-Over-Three and promised to double it if anyone matches his $10,000. Brother E.D. likewise led by example, by making a pledge of $3,000 — $1,000 per year for three years. “Region VI has made the largest dollar amount of pledges so far, while Region IV has the largest number of Three-Over-Three participants,” Dennis reports. “But this campaign must be strong in all regions for NSBE to make its goal.” ■ • career engineer • fall 2009 • 59 www.nsbe.org

NSBE - Fall 2009

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