The UPMASA Report
by Jose D. Peczon, Class �57, PEF Chairman

Two years ago, When Francisco Floro, Class �57, asked Dean Amelia Reyes Fernandez what she would like most for her classmates to donate to the College of Medicine during her tenure, the Dean replied, �replace the microscopes used by freshman medical students who get their first look at bacteria with the same ancient microscopes used by your class way back in 1952!�

In response, Francis spearheaded a drive to donate 100 new microscopes to the UPCM. Class members donated over $30,000 during the first year of the drive. And during the Cleveland meeting last July, classmate Jess Caderao donated an additional $10,000. Led by Ohio Chapter President Celia So-Yap, Class �68, the entire Ohio Chapter campaigned throughout the floor, from table to table, urging alumni to donate to a very worthy cause. Alumni from other classes donated or pledged over $75,000 during the traditional luncheon meeting. The Dean, with misty eyes, witnessed a tremendous outpouring of support from everyone as the drive was successfully completed.

Class members can take pride in giving every freshman medical student at UPCM the benefit of a brand new binocular microscope when they first encounter an E. Coli in Bacteriology or a liver cell in Histology.

A fund drive was also started for the Dean Alfredo T. Ramirez Professorial Chair by Tony Donesa and Vic Poblete. Thanks to their effort, the fund is now only $3,000 short of the $15,000 minimum needed to fund a chair. �Friends of Freddie - get those checks in before the year end for a good tax deduction while honoring our esteemed friend with a well deserved Professorial Chair!�

The Permanent Endowment Fund is going strong with funds now hovering at $900,000 depending on the strength of the market. During the last Board meeting, it was decided to keep 50% of the funds in cash or cash equivalents and the remainder in a mutual fund linked to the S&P 500 Index. This strategy will insure a steady annual income of approximately $40,000 while participating in the inevitable appreciation in the equity sector.

Your PEF chairman recommended and got Board approval for the added security of requiring two signatures on every check written against the fund. To further add integrity to the committee, Manny Dalope, the single most generous donor to the fund with a $100,000 contribution, was asked to be cochairman and he readily accepted. All UPMASA Chapter Presidents are automatically members of the PEF Committee.

Before the next alumni meeting in New York, less than a year from now, we hope more donations will help us top our Million Dollar Goal. Then we can start on the next million! LET US JUST DO IT!