Shown are (front row, from left) Darcy Carbone, 2016-17 RP Chair; Forrest Yount, Carrier; Bill Walter, Carrier; Duane Rothstein, Daikin Applied; Jay Eldridge, Daikin Applied; Mark Fly, AAON; Kasey Worthington, AAON; Ronnie Moffitt, Trane; Eric Sturm, Trane; Bill McQuade, Johnson Controls; Dennis Wessel, ASHRAE Life Member’s Club; Mike Hart, Individual Donor (second row, from left) Don Hill, NEBB; Tiffany Suite, NEBB; Mike Fulton, Western Mechanical Solutions; Brian Lynch, Western Mechanical Solutions; Richard Burr, Individual Donor; Charity Burr, Individual Donor; Nathan Dills, SMACNA; Mohamed Abdelsalam, Enbridge; Amy Doran, Alerton; Joe Naccarello, Nortek Air Solutions; Buddy Doll, Nortek Air Solutions; Phillip Johnson, Daikin North America; Terry Whitehead, Enbridge (back row, from left) Chad Edmondson, James M. Pleasants Co.; Chuck Ross, Alerton; Jacob Gribbon, LGE; Jeff Hayes, LGE
From eSociety, March 2018
All ASHRAE members have no doubt heard of—or been involved with—the RP Campaign: the grassroots campaign that raises funds for research, scholarships, comprehensive educational activities and Young Engineers in ASHRAE.
Many members do not realize that ASHRAE also raises funds to support various programs through the ASHRAE Foundation and special campaigns. In 2016–17, ASHRAE raised $3 million overall, largely through grassroots efforts.
The 2018 Winter Conference included time for recognition of these generous donors and enthusiastic fundraising volunteers at the President’s Luncheon on Jan. 22.
ASHRAE recognized Boggarm “Bogi” Setty, of the ASHRAE National Capital Chapter, and wife Barthy as President’s Forum donors, with a certificate of appreciation for their generous gift through the Setty Family Foundation to endow the Setty Family Foundation Applied Engineering Challenge.
This is an annual student competition that encourages innovation in sustainable engineering. Setty—an ASHRAE Fellow/Life Member, ASHRAE Foundation Board member and generous supporter of ASHRAE scholarships and programs—gave brief remarks on the themes of philanthropy and the difference ASHRAE has made in his life. Setty echoed the sentiments of many ASHRAE donors when he stated that it is important to him to be able to impact the lives of students the same way that ASHRAE has impacted him.
Darcy Carbon, of the ASHRAE Boston Chapter, who chaired the RP Committee in 2016–17, highlighted milestones of the campaign and thanked the over 7,000 donors to the RP campaign who contributed to an all-time high of $2.7 million for society year 2016–17.
Leadership annual donors at the Benefactor, Platinum Circle and Golden Circle levels were also recognized and included corporations, individual members and nonprofit organizations.
Carbone also recognized the tireless work of our more than 200 volunteers to make the 2016–17 campaign a success.
For the first time, a single region was responsible for raising over half a million dollars: Region VIII, under the leadership of RP-RVC Mike Donovan, raised an incredible $536,083. During his tenure, Donovan has helped Region VIII increase its total dollars raised by almost 33%.
Houston Chapter (Region VIII), won the RP Pinnacle Award for raising the highest amount for the 2016–17 Campaign, finishing with $135,437.
2016–17 Chapter RP Chair Kenneth Shifflet and Chapter President Kimberly Thompson received the award on behalf of the chapter.
The generosity and dedication of ASHRAE donors highlights how seriously members take the Society’s mission to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world. Donor gifts to ASHRAE ensure that the work of members will go through future generations and improve the HVAC&R industry for years to come. To learn more about supporting ASHRAE, visit http://www.ashrae.org/make-a-gift.