W&M GALA needs your help to grow the Cornish Fund!
To print out a mail-in contribution form, click here

Dear GALA Members, Friends and Supporters:

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the founding of the Richard Cornish Endowment Fund. GALA established this fund at Earl Gregg Swem Library to fund the purchase of gay and lesbian literature for the Library.

When we created the Fund, our goal was to raise the $25,000 minimum needed to establish an endowed fund--an amount that seemed astronomical. But what seemed daunting at the time, proved readily attainable. William & Mary's gay and lesbian alumni and friends were quick to donate, overwhelming us with their generosity and shared desire to ensure that every William & Mary student would readily find supportive gay and lesbian literature among Swem's stacks.

As a result of the continuing generosity of alumni, friends and supporters, the Fund has now reached a total of more than $66,000 and has enabled the library to purchase literally hundreds of gay and lesbian titles (click here for full list of titles). The Fund is one of only a few such endowed sources of funding for Swem and has become a model for efforts to raise Library funds.

Recognizing the extraordinary value of the Fund and in honor of its 10th Anniversary, we are launching a new campaign to raise the endowment to $100,000. We will celebrate the campaign at a special Kick-off & Reception during homecoming weekend, Saturday, Nov. 1st, at 5:30-7:00 pm, Swem 3rd Floor Administrative Suite. Please join us for this exciting event where special guest, Chris Bram '74, author of eight novels, including The Notorious Dr. August, Almost History, Father of Frankenstein, and Lives of the Circus Animals, will make remarks.

I also encourage you to join me and the GALA Board in making a financial commitment to the Cornish Fund as we head toward this new $100,000 goal. Whether you have contributed in the past or are a first-time donor, please join us in supporting this important GALA legacy. As William & Mary's gay and lesbian alumni step forward in supporting the College and its continuing mission of academic excellence, we proudly and rightly acknowledge the contributions and value of the College's gay and lesbian community. If you have already contributed to the Campaign, we are grateful for your support. Warmest regards,

Joseph Price '93
President, William and Mary GALA