The legacy of George Eastman as the University鈥檚 greatest benefactor will take on new meaning this fall with the dedication during Meliora Weekend of a statue intended to celebrate Eastman鈥檚 visionary leadership and commemorate the launch of the George Eastman Circle, a new generation of leaders committed to building a greater University in the tradition established by Eastman.
The commissioned statue, which will be dedicated in an Eastman Quadrangle ceremony open to the University and the Rochester communities, celebrates the George Eastman Circle, a newly established Annual Fund leadership society whose quickly growing 1,000-plus members are extending the power of Eastman鈥檚 philanthropy for generations to come, according to Jim Thompson, University senior vice president and chief advancement聽officer.
The ceremony is one of several events and activities that are intended to help connect Eastman鈥檚 vision for the University with the current University and plans for its future.
Over the course of the weekend, the University will also dedicate the Edmund A. Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, named in honor of Ed Hajim 鈥�58, chair of the Board of Trustees and a charter member of the George Eastman Circle. And the University will dedicate the newly renovated Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, part of an effort to remodel and add to the theater in ways that fulfill Eastman鈥檚 original goals for a communitywide performing arts聽center.
鈥淭here are moments in the history of all great universities where key individuals step forward and make an impact with their vision, leadership, and generosity,鈥� says Thompson. 鈥淕eorge and Ed鈥檚 dedication, and their shared belief that education is the solution to the world鈥檚 problems, should be an inspiration to us all.鈥�
Members of the George Eastman Circle also have an exclusive invitation to spend 鈥淎n Evening with Malcolm Gladwell,鈥� a New Yorker staff writer and author of three No.聽1 New York Times bestsellers, including the topic for his discussion, 鈥淥utliers: The Story of Success.鈥�