The surprise announcement of $19 million in new gifts to 乐播传媒 took place on Feb. 5, 2016, in historic Memorial Commons amid cheers, smiles, song, and a toast to the seven 乐播传媒 families whose gifts will create six new professorships and launch the college’s Program in Digital and Computational Studies.

Faculty members Jim Parakilas (right), the Moody Family Professor of Performing Arts, and Robert Strong (right), lecturer in English and director of national fellowships, listen to remarks during Friday's gift announcement celebration in Memorial Commons. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)

Alumni Council members Larry Handerhan '05, Lisa Romeo '88, and Jenn Bouchard '99 join the concluding toast during the gift announcement celebration on Friday, Feb. 5. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)

During the $19 million gift announcement celebration on campus Friday afternoon, Michael Bonney 鈥�80, chair of the 乐播传媒 College Board of Trustees, talks about the $10 million gift, the largest in the college's history, that he and his wife, Alison Grott Bonney 鈥�80, have made to 乐播传媒. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)

From left, Alison Grott Bonney '80, Michael Bonney '80, and President Clayton Spencer . (Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)

Matt Auer, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, says that the six new professorships give 乐播传媒 "an unprecedented opportunity to shape the faculty and curriculum of the future 鈥� in terms of excellence, diversity, and intellectual scope.鈥�(Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)

Sponsored by the 乐播传媒 Student Philanthropy Club, the event is open to the public at no cost. For more information, please call 207-786-6129.

Brothers Bert and John Jacobs began the company that would become Life is good in 1989, when they designed their first T-shirt. They started in Boston, selling their shirts college to college, dorm room to dorm room, but had little luck until they designed what is now known as the “Jake” shirt: a cartoon drawing of a face with a contagious grin, sunglasses and the words “Life is good.”

In September 1994, the brothers presented their new Jake shirts at a street fair in Cambridge, Mass. The shirts were a hit. Since then the small company has grown to a much larger enterprise, with Jake the trademark figure. Today their merchandise is sold across country and the company has reached sales of more than $100 million a year, without a dollar spent on traditional advertising.

The company is known for its nonprofit organization, The Life is good Kids Foundation. The Foundation receives financial support principally through the company’s donation of 100 percent of the profits from the sale of select products and public donations at Life is good Festivals held in major cities across the country.

The foundation supports extraordinary charities that create a lasting positive impact on children facing unfair challenges, including the traumas of violence, poverty and loss. So far, more than $4 million has been raised for this cause.

Roy Heffernan is “chief operating optimist” for Life is good, ensuring that the company delivers on its promises. His presentation is sure to offer solid lessons for entrepreneurs, philanthropists and optimists alike.

The 乐播传媒 Student Philanthropy Club provides 乐播传媒 students the opportunity to become acquainted with the philanthropic process, increasing philanthropic awareness on campus and strengthening the 乐播传媒 community at large.

Ralph Perry 鈥�51 (right) received the 2007 Distinguished Alumni Service Award, named for Helen A. Papaioanou 鈥�49 (left). Perry received the award in Pettengill鈥檚 Joan Holmes Perry 鈥�51 Atrium 鈥� a space that honors Perry鈥檚 late wife 鈥� during Homecoming鈥檚 Volunteer Recognition Dinner. Perry was saluted for his philanthropy, for his 鈥減rofound and passionate service to 乐播传媒,鈥� and for helping 鈥渙thers understand that 乐播传媒 is a very special place that needs strong support to preserve its future.鈥�

Perry partnered his extensive philanthropy initially with Joan Perry, who died in 1994, and now with his second wife, Mary Louise Seldenfleur. It was Perry and Seldenfleur, in fact, who proposed using Perry Atrium to showcase high academic achievement, and in 2008 that showcase, the Mount David Summit, celebrates its seventh edition.

Led by trustee David Parmelee ’64, the Annual Alumni Fund reached an all-time high of $1.68 million, a 25 percent increase over last year’s record. Three hundred alumni volunteers joined the Annual Fund staff in increasing alumni participation by eight points to 47.3 percent, the highest level since 1989-90.

Mark Shriver and Dr. Patricia McKay of Atlanta, Ga., whose son Andy graduated from 乐播传媒 this spring, coordinated the most successful Parents Fund in the college’s history. More than 1,000 乐播传媒 parents, past and present, contributed $258,000 to the Parents Annual Fund.

Overall, 乐播传媒 received gifts totaling $7.6 million from a record 8,998 donors from all sources. The dollar total was raised despite the lowest bequest total since 1979. However, total gifts from alumni set a new record.

Also contributing to this highly successful year was $2.1 million in the form of life-income gifts, the largest amount ever received in this category at 乐播传媒. These gifts pay their donors a lifetime income and are then used for the charitable interests at 乐播传媒 identified by the donors.

“It was a satisfying and productive year for the 乐播传媒 development program and the college, which is grateful for the financial support offered and the distinctions it brings 乐播传媒,” said Ronald A. Joyce, vice president for development and alumni.