Just nineteen months into the Foundation's capital campaign, countless Brothers have stepped up to provide more than $11 million towards the $14 million goal. The Building Upon the Rock, Preserving Our Future campaign is designed to provide for needs of the LEAD Program, chapter housing and scholarships, Headquarters preservation, and general operations.

Young alumnus and Foundation donor Andy Hackett (Penn State) says getting involved with his chapter's LEAD Program had a significant impact on him during his undergraduate years and even today. The 2005 graduate says, "LEAD has helped me to be effective in my many endeavors today."

Andy is the Chapter Advisor for two Sigma Nu chapters in Boston (MIT and Tufts), as well as the Alumni Advisory Board Chairman for his own chapter at Penn State; he is currently the President of the Boston Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association on top of holding down a full-time job in pharmaceutical technology. "Time management, setting priorities, and being efficient and effective are all habits that are rooted in my time as an undergraduate at Sigma Nu and my involvement with all four phases of the LEAD Program," he shares.

Andy made his first gift to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation as a sophomore while attending Grand Chapter in Toronto. "I gave, frankly, because I wanted the green ribbon for the 1869 Club that everyone was wearing. But what kept me giving was the realization that Sigma Nu gave so much to me. I know I can never repay it, but I want to, at least, make an effort toward that," he says.

"I've also watched Grand Sentinel Duane Dreger (MIT) and Division Commander Bruce Roullard (Southern Maine) give so much back. Seeing that and the strong alumni network I have today because of them helps me stay engaged and encourages me to do more," he says.

The Building Upon the Rock campaign will have an important long-term impact on the LEAD Program--and on thousands of young men like Andy--because of the option to give today or to support LEAD in the future through a planned gift. Current economic conditions clearly demonstrate the value of developing resources for the long-term.

Cash gifts to the Educational Foundation provide for today's needs and enable us to continue providing excellent educational programs and amenities at the current level to our undergraduate members. However, these resources must be secured at the same or higher levels each and every year, thus putting essential programs like LEAD in a vulnerable position, especially in economically difficult times as we've recently experienced.

In an effort to secure the future of the LEAD Program, a core component of this campaign is resource development through planned giving commitments that will provide future income to support LEAD in years to come.

Your gift to the campaign is vital to helping us reach our $14 million goal, which will provide for today's needs and secure the future of the LEAD program. If you have been a part of the $11 million already given to the Foundation towards this campaign, thank you for your support. If you haven't made a commitment to be involved with Building Upon the Rock and would like to learn more, please contact Brad Hastings at brad.hastings@sigmanu.org.