For alumni of the 1s and 6s, 2015–2016 offered an opportunity to reconnect with classmates, learn about new campus developments, and give back to the university. Commitments made during this reunion year reached $93.7 million, with gifts supporting Yale’s core priorities of financial aid, teaching, and research.
Of the thirteen Yale College reunion classes, two set all-time records—1986 and 2011—giving the most generous class gifts for each of their respective reunions. Six other reunion classes moved into all-time top-ten spots: 1951, 1956, 1966, 1981, 1991, and 2001. In addition, the Yale College Class of 1966 set a record for Alumni Fund giving in any year, reunion or non-reunion, with $1,321,601.
Teamwork and class spirit inspire giving
The incredible success of reunions reflected hard work, teamwork, and class spirit: in total, 310 gift committee members reached out to 2,515 classmates.
Fiftieth Reunion gift co-chair Robert Brundige ’66 was grateful to all who contributed to the class gift. “What an awesome result the Class of 1966 achieved for its 50th Reunion! Through incredible teamwork, we raised $61,008,954—the fifth highest all-time for a Yale 50th Reunion. To accomplish this, we had seventy-five dedicated classmates, including class agents, who tirelessly reached out to the entire class, over 74 percent of whom responded with generous gifts to reach the aforementioned results. This was not only in honor of our 50th Reunion, but in appreciation of Yale for what it has meant to us, to all other classes, and to the world.”
Jane Buchan ’86, 30th Reunion gift co-chair, was similarly proud of her record-breaking class. “I am thrilled with the participation and support of my classmates,” she said. “Working together and reconnecting helped lead to our class’ largest reunion gift to date. Thank you so very much for your generosity.”
A banner year for reunion weekends
Alumni returned to campus this year eager to reconnect with classmates and friends and, in the process, set several records. Overall, attendance for the two reunion weekends reached a chart-topping 7,182 people—4,533 of whom were alumni, the most ever to come back during reunions.
In addition, several classes achieved reunion attendance milestones. The Class of 1996 welcomed 996 total guests including 540 classmates, or a record-breaking 42.5 percent. Not to be outdone, the Class of 2011 5th Reunion brought an unprecedented 57.2 percent of alumni back to campus—a reunions first! They also broke the total attendance record for a 5th Reunion with 787 people attending. And the “senior reunion,” or alumni who graduated sixty-six or more years ago, brought together alumni as far back as the Class of 1938.
