Gala & picnic kick off “we are ONE” campaign
With grateful hearts, Union Presbyterian Seminary celebrated the initial successes of its $53 million capital campaign to fund nine new programs for a changing society and a changing church. The public phase of the campaign was launched in November with two great events.
President Brian K. Blount and the seminary’s board of trustees welcomed more than 200 donors, faculty, students, and staff to the Richmond campus for the we are ONE campaign gala. Guests enjoyed dinner in a big tent centered on the quad with campaign co-chair Peter Bynum (M.Div.’09) as the host. The evening featured a presentation by President Blount and performances by M.A.C.E. student Alexa Allman, M.Div. student Alex Fischer, and M.Div. student Heather Brannon and her husband Sam Brannon. Co-chairs of the gala were Sharon Blount and board member Cal Jennison.
Two weeks later, more than 70 students, staff, and faculty gathered in Lake Chapel for a picnic-style event in Lake Chapel that featured BBQ, a blue grass band, and square dancing. M.Div. student Melissa Miller offered the prayer for the meal and festivities. Professor of Old Testament Samuel Adams presented an overview of the we are ONE campaign, and library staff member Lisa Janes shared a word about the launch of the Hal Todd Library Without Walls campaign initiative. The gala and picnic were both financed by sponsorship gifts.
In the public phase, UPSem is pressing forward to raise the last $6 million of its $53 million goal.
During the public phase, UPSem will be traveling to many regions to host Campaign Ignite Events. The first event was held November 17 in Montreat, where 65 alums and friends gathered to learn more about the nine new programs funded by the campaign and to inaugurate the Hal Todd Library Without Walls system.
After Christmas, UPSem will host more gatherings in cities such as Greenville, Durham, and Raleigh, North Carolina; Saratoga and Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida; and Roanoke, Tidewater, Northern Neck, Virginia.
