PBHA Campaign Exceeds Goal

Celebrating two-and-a-half years of successful fundraising for an endowment fund, Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) presented a benefit concert yesterday by cellist Yo-Yo Ma '76.

After the total from the concert has been tallyed, PBHA will have raised close to $1.2 million, according to David Rogers '88, a full-time staff member in charge of fundraising for the public service organization.

This latest figure exceeds PBHA's original goal of $1 million. which was reached in mid-winter 1990, Rogers said.

"The endowment campaign will help us to underwrite the quality of our public service program for decades to come," Rogers said.

PBHA plans to use the interest on the new endowment, $50,000 initially, to provide guaranteed funding for its annual programs. The rest of PBHA's $350,000 a year budget comes from the University, through annual donations by alumni and corporations, and from individual fundraising efforts made by each of PBHA's 38 programs.

According to Rogers, much of the program's recent financial success has come from a restructuring of its fundraising systems. In 1988, the program added Rogers as its second full-time staff member, and in the summer of 1989, PBHA established a separate committee to direct its fundraising efforts.

Last year, annual giving to the public service association rose to $120,000, from only $50,000 the year before, Rogers said. In addition, the PBHA fundraiser said, the success of the drive was significantly increased by some Harvard alumni's non-financial contributions.

"We have received a lot of mentoring and advice from alumni," Rogers said. "They have given us advice on who to talk to and how to aproach people and on overall and specific strategy."

"People have been just a phone call away, even during the busiest times of the day, even on the West Coast," Rogers added.

Beyond long-term fundraising successes, PBHA organizers said the endowment campaign has been topped off by yesterday's concert, performed by Ma and the Harvard-Radcliffe Concerto Soloists. The group, which included undergraduate and graduate performers, attracted a large crowd, selling more than 1000 tickets.

According to Rogers, the concert was organized not only as a fundraising event, but also as a way to give more exposure to PBHA and its public service programs. The performance drew Harvard graduates, students and Cambridge-area residents who said they came to support PBHA, or hear Yo-Yo Ma or both.

"I came for PBH, though I am also delighted to hear the concert," said Sandy Pfunder '65, who is in Cambridge for his 25th reunion. "I've been involved with PBH for 25 years, particularly with the campaigning, and I thought this was a fun way to end it."

And Attison W. Clossen '55, in town for his 35th reunion, said he attended the concert to hear Ma and see his classmates who were attending.

"I did not work at PBH, but I remember going there a few times," Clossen said. "I always believed in it. I'm glad to atone for my sins now."