News

Families honored, top numbers achieved

A RECORD CROWD helped the University raise the most funds ever for students, faculty, and programs at the annual Simon Benson Awards in October. Event co-chairs Tom Fink ’71, PSU Foundation president, and Richard Hawkins ’69 led the effort that resulted in a record $840,000 raised.

More than 1,500 people came to the dinner at the Oregon Convention Center to honor the Furman and Mark families, who have given millions of dollars to education, the arts, and nonprofit organizations over several decades. Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state, gave the keynote speech.

William Furman is the cofounder, president, and CEO of The Greenbrier Companies, an international rail and marine barge manufacturing company headquartered in Lake Oswego. He and his late wife, Joyce, have supported PSU School of Social Work programs that help youth and foster best practices in the field.

Melvin “Pete” Mark, chairman of the commercial real estate firm Melvin Mark Companies, supports a variety of institutions in Portland, including the Portland Art Museum, which his late wife, Mary, also contributed to. Gifts from Mark family members are also supporting PSU student veterans and programs in the College of Urban and Public Affairs. 

Success at the Simon Benson Awards follows a best-ever year in 2010-11 for philanthropic support to the University. Private donors and organizations contributed more than $15.7 million to PSU, a 22 percent increase from the year before.

Top photo: Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state, told her personal story to illustrate the transformational power of education at the Simon Benson Awards dinner.

Bottom photo: Condoleezza Rice congratulates William Furman (left) and Pete Mark, who accepted Simon Benson philanthropy awards on behalf of their families.