KINGSPORT (Feb. 15, 2013) – Top donors from the private sector were honored by East Tennessee State University for generous contributions to the ETSU Foundation during the Distinguished President’s Trust (DPT) dinner at MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center Friday evening (Feb. 15).

The DPT – comprised of more than 1,350 contributors whose individual cumulative gifts to the ETSU Foundation have surpassed the $10,000 level – welcomed 45 new members at the dinner.

“East Tennessee State University is about transforming lives and dreaming bigger dreams, and the support from our Distinguished President’s Trust members and other donors helps make that possible,” ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland said. “These generous individuals allow ETSU to raise the bar even higher as we serve our students, our faculty and staff, and our community.”

Most of these donors are permanently recognized on the President’s Society Wall of Honor located on the main ETSU campus in Johnson City. The second floor of Burgin E. Dossett Hall administration building features engraved portraits of President’s Society members whose significant lifelong contributions to the ETSU Foundation exceed $50,000.

Dr. Richard A. Manahan, vice president for University Advancement and president/CEO of the ETSU Foundation, said that President’s Society members have cumulatively given more than $191 million to the university, including planned and estate gifts.

“This year’s 27 honorees for the ETSU Foundation Wall of Honor join with other President’s Society members to continue the outstanding legacy of leadership that provides the ‘Margin of Excellence’ for private support,” Manahan said. “Their continued gifts – especially now – assure a promising future for the overall quality of education at ETSU. And, as the ultimate beneficiaries of this generosity, the university’s students, faculty and staff are always grateful for this stellar record of giving.

“With $13.4 million in current and planned gifts this past fiscal year, together with past years of generous support from ETSU’s alumni and friends, these achievements will continue to make the future even brighter for ETSU and for those we serve in our region and around the world.”

Noted D. Roger Kennedy, chair of the ETSU Foundation Board of Directors, “On behalf of the members of the ETSU Foundation, it is once again an honor to recognize these donors on the Foundation’s Wall of Honor for the President’s Society. These individuals, businesses and other organizations continue to generously invest in the people and programs of the university. They are confident in the quality educational experience that ETSU provides in so many academic areas and know the many other cultural and economic benefits ETSU has given to our region and its people since 1911.

“These honorees enable ETSU to be the best regional university in the nation. I am very grateful to these and all donors and encourage other alumni and friends to join the ETSU Foundation President’s Society Wall of Honor in the days and years ahead with their current and estate gifts to build together an even better university.”

The newest inductees into the Diamond Society, which honors donors with cumulative gifts of $5 million, are James C. Martin, Johnson City, and the late Mary B. Martin. James Martin gave the initial gift that established the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts at ETSU in memory of his wife and has given numerous subsequent gifts to support the work of the school.

With cumulative contributions of $100,000 to $500,000, new Silver Society members are Dr. David and Hilda Collins, Dr. T. Watson and Linda Wright Jernigan, and Dr. Sam W. and Carolee P. McKinstry, Johnson City; James E. Rhein, Jonesborough; the Estate of Glenn N. Barker, Kingsport; Dr. Robert D. Patton, Nashville; Raymond W. and Ruth Gilly Baskette, Tucker, Ga.; and the Estate of Nathan Yokum, Indialantic, Fla.

The Bronze Society recognizes donors with cumulative contributions of $50,000 to $100,000. New members are Blackburn Childers and Steagall PLC, Dr. J. Kenneth Herd, Andrew and Barbara Massimilla (In Memory of Joseph J. and Yvonne T. Massimilla), and Drs. Leslie and Peter Panus, Johnson City; Dr. Louis and Linda Modica (In Memory of Andrew and Flora Modica), Jonesborough; Dr. and Mrs. Richard Feit and O. Jean Seal (In Memory of Hope Modrell), Kingsport; WFIU, Bloomington, Ind.; and WWOZ, New Orleans.