Press Release
Fork Union Military Academy has successfully completed its 125 for the 125th Campaign with the receipt this week of the 125th gift. The campaign commemorated the Academy’s 125th anniversary by securing 125 special gifts in an amount of at least $12,500.00 that were designated to Fork Union’s endowment or specified capital projects that enhance the campus. The gifts could be structured as a gift in immediately available funds or stock, a completed gift with a residual interest, such as the transfer of property with a retained life estate, or a planned gift.
“The goal of this campaign was to celebrate Fork Union Military Academy’s first 125 years by taking positive steps to attract and retain talented cadets, faculty, and staff who will lead us into the next 125 years,” said Cpt. Mark Black, the Academy’s president.“Today, we celebrate the generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends whose contributions have ensured this campaign’s success.”
David Barrett, chairman of the 125 for the 125th Campaign and Board of Trustees Member since 2010, added “It is wonderful to see the wide-ranging support from the Fork Union community for the 125th Campaign to ensure the generations to come will benefit from our Christian environment.”
The 125 for the 125th Campaign has received 125 gifts and counting. Among the campaign’s highlights were several contributions that supported campus improvements, such as the Alfred H. Koeller III Memorial Press Box, funded by Nancy Koeller to fulfill the promise of her husband Ken Koeller (FUMA ’52), who sought to honor his brother. Through the Campaign, donors supported many efforts, including the Chain Fund, the Academy’s unrestricted endowment fund. The Campaign engendered the establishment and support of numerous scholarships, including a scholarship created in honor of CSM Glenn Sidwell who, after a storied military career, came to the Academy in 1989 and who has impacted the lives of thousands of young men. The 125 for the 125th Campaign also saw the notable expansion of the endowment to include the establishment of endowed accounts to support faculty positions and Academy programs, including the establishment of the H. M. “Micky” Sullivan (FUMA ‘67 PG) Chair of Excellence for Prep Football announced by Eddie George (FUMA ‘91, Board of Trustees) as well as the endowment of the Academy’s storied PG Football program in honor of legendary coach John Shuman. The Campaign also resulted in the Ashby Family Endowed Chaplaincy Fund to ensure the solid biblical foundation and spiritual leadership is communicated to the cadets which is an integral part of Fork Union. Finally, the Campaign showed a commitment to our faculty by endowing new faculty chairs and establishing the Jeffrey J. and Margaret Jones Family Foundation Faculty Professional Development Award, an endowed fund designed to attract and retain top-tier educators, ensuring the Academy’s legacy of academic excellence given by Jeffrey J. Jones II (FUMA ’86 PG), CEO of H&R Block and his wife, Margaret.
The Academy cannot reference the 125 for the 125th Campaign without extolling the transformative planned gift that was announced by Frank Brewster (FUMA ’64) at the keynote event associated with the 125th celebration. Brewster pledged an extraordinary future gift, approximately $52 million, undoubtedly the largest planned gift in the Academy’s history.
For information about Fork Union Military Academy, the 125 for the 125th Campaign, or ways to support its mission, please visit www.forkunion.com or contact the Advancement Office at 434-842-4207.
