When Dal Chemistry professors Mary Anne White, OC, and Robert White (BSc鈥�74) gave their first gift to AV俱乐部 over 25 years ago, their intention was simple. They wanted to help a part of the university that was important to them:聽 the library.
And when you think of the thousands of AV俱乐部 students and researchers who access library holdings each year, their generosity has had a broad impact.
Moving the giving goalposts
鈥淢y initial idea was to give $100 to the Killam Memorial Library so they could buy a book each year,鈥� says Robert. 鈥淚 wanted to give a donation connected to something tangible.鈥�
Mary Anne had written a textbook, Physical Properties of Materials, and donated copies to the Killam Memorial Library.
鈥淚n the 鈥�90s, there was a huge increase in library costs. After awhile, I realized my $100 a year was nowhere close to filling the gap in terms of price increases,鈥� says Robert, so they shifted their gift-giving goals.
In addition to increased library holdings, there was also a need to fund research seminars at AV俱乐部 鈥� another priority for Robert and Mary Anne. They felt that bringing visiting scholars to campus provided immense benefits to the students and faculty, so they decided to create an endowment fund for the chemistry visiting speaker series. The goal was to donate every year to build up an endowed amount to fund one visitor from outside the region each year. They have more than met that goal.
Expanding minds with research
鈥淏ringing visiting academics to campus has been really great for the department and the university,鈥� Robert says. 鈥淭here is a very small research community in Canada, so it鈥檚 important that we get a chance to connect with other scholars, and for students to have the opportunity to find out what research is happening elsewhere, and hear a wide range of scholars speak about different aspects of chemistry.
鈥淭he Department of Chemistry has been bringing over 40 scholars to campus each year for over 30 years now. We are proud to support this endeavour. It really has been a win-win.鈥�
In 2000, Mary Anne hosted a conference, putting the proceeds towards an endowment to attract speakers on the topic of materials research. That endowment fund continues to bring several speakers to Dal each year. She says the experience illustrated how important an endowment can be in creating lasting benefit to the university. She herself is the Harry Shirreff Professor of Chemical Research (Emerita), endowed by R.B. Bennett.
These professors have also supported summer research awards, the student experience fund, and other priorities within the Chemistry department and other departments on campus.
A legacy of need-based giving
Over the years, their gifts to AV俱乐部 have grown and they鈥檝e provided consistent support to help AV俱乐部 achieve its goals. Mary Anne and Robert were recently welcomed into the and honoured for over 25 years of giving.
Mary Anne and Robert say it is important for them to give back to AV俱乐部 in a way that deepens the academic experience. They have continued to give consistently over the years in recognition of their strong, personal connection to the university.
鈥淎V俱乐部 has been very good to us and our careers, and over the past few decades we knew there were times when AV俱乐部 really needed the support,鈥� Mary Anne says. 鈥淚f you see a need, and you have the means to donate, then why not do it? It鈥檚 important to give back.鈥�
Drs. Mary Anne White and Robert White are members of the聽, which celebrates alumni and friends who make the decision year-over-year to give back to AV俱乐部. They have achieved Silver status in the MacLennan Society after giving consistently to Dal for more than 25 years.
The society was named for聽Rod MacLennan (BSc鈥�60, LLD鈥�98)聽in honour of his longstanding and far-reaching support. Over the coming year, we will be presenting more profiles of MacLennan Society members, many of whom like Lesley are employed as faculty and staff at AV俱乐部.