Office of
College Advancement
The Washington Fund
John A. Wagner '74 Director, Waterfront Activities
"I owe my livelihood to my liberal arts education. But for me, watching young rowers and sailors develop into mature and interesting individuals is the big payoff."
John Wagner '74, a former rower and now director of the College's waterfront activities, has strong family ties to his alma mater. He and his wife Carol '03, sister Kathy '79, daughter Nicole '96, and niece Jennifer Grotton '90 have continued the Wagner legacy established when his father graduated in 1934. In addition to their investments of time and work, the Wagner’s support the College with annual gifts because of what their education has empowered them to achieve. John's experience in the classroom and on the Chester River gave him focus, discipline and an appreciation for the liberal arts.
Wagner likens rowing to the annual support he and his wife provide. You row for the good of all, and for the sake of rowing. We give for the good of Washington College, for the sake of education. It's not so much what we studied, but the experiences we had that counted.
Jolene Lehr ‘00
“Giving to The Washington Fund is about building the future, but it's also an investment in my history. I want to always be proud that I graduated from Washington College."
Jolene Lehr, a young publishing professional living in the Boston area, supports those institutions that have shaped who she is today-for example, her church, the local museum, public television and Washington College. "I definitely believe in giving back," she says, "and I think of it as an investment in the make-up of who I am."
As a more recent alumna, she's also market-savvy. "Higher education is a competitive industry these days, and colleges have to work hard to remain attractive to students on all levels," she says, "including academic programs, athletics and infrastructure. If we're not moving ahead, we can easily fall by the wayside. When you consider our small alumni base and our relatively modest endowment, you realize that every dollar counts and every contributor matters."
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