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Class of 2011 Class Gift

This spring, the Vanderbilt Law School graduating class of 2011 will join together for a fundraising campaign to honor the memory of Chris Lantz, a third year law student who died tragically in December. Chris was president of the Vanderbilt Bar Association and Technology Editor of the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law. He was a member of the Vanderbilt chapter of the Federalist Society, as well as a representative to the Young Lawyers Division of the Tennessee Bar Association and vice president of the Vanderbilt Intellectual Property Association. Classmates remember Chris as outgoing, extremely bright, and a gifted organizer.

The class will strive to raise a minimum of $25,000 to endow the Chris Lantz Award to annually benefit a third year law student who, like Chris, demonstrates a dedication to developing a sense of community among his or her class; a strong capacity for leadership; and a commitment to his or her legal studies. 

The members of the class of 2011 may also choose to support the VLS Public Service Initiative. This ambitious program is designed to encourage VLS graduates to explore public interest law as a potential career path. The Law School provides a modest monthly stipend to graduates who work on at least a half-time basis in a public interest setting for up to six months following graduation.

The collective class gift pledge will be presented to Dean Chris Guthrie at Commencement on Friday, May 13, 2011. All Class Gift donors will be recognized on a hand-out that will be distributed to guests at Commencement.

Class of 2011 Ways to Give

1. Pledge Now. Sign in using your VUNetID & password.

2. Make a gift online. Choose Law School from drop down menu and note the fund name(s) in the special comments box.

3. Write a check made payable to Vanderbilt Law School. Print out the gift form and give your donation to a member of the Class Gift Committee, or bring directly to Kathryn Carmody, Assistant Director of Development & Alumni Relations (142 Center building).

 ***May 11, 2011 is the deadline for your gift/pledge to be included in the final total for the check presented to Dean Guthrie at Commencement & on the recognition hand-out that will be passed out alongside the Commencement brochure***

2011 Class Gift Committee Members

Steven Haymore (co-chair)
Anne Gooch (co-chair)
Erdem Balkan
Tatiana Boza
Carter Coker
Jared Gardner
Erin Guffey
Shannon Kelley
David King
Sean Perryman
Carrie Pytynia
 

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Students pay tuition, so does the law school really need our money?
2. Why is a pledge so important to Vanderbilt Law School?
3. Will our gifts really make a difference?
4. Are gifts tax deductible?
5. When do we begin paying off pledges and how do we make payments?
6. If I make a pledge, will I still receive soliciations from Vanderbilt after graduation?
7. Do I have to pledge to the Christopher Steven Lantz Fund and/or Public Service Initiative, or can I choose another fund?
8. How do I make my pledge? 
 

1. Students pay tuition, so does the law school really need our money?

Yes! Tuition only covers a portion of what it takes to run the law school on an annual basis. Donations from alumni and friends make up the difference. Without these gifts, the law school would not be able to fund student organizations, keep class sizes down, employ distinguished faculty, offer a wide variety of courses, provide career services, maintain the extensive library or continually upgrade technology. In particular, scholarships and awards enable the school to recruit talented students and to minimize the loan burden.

2. Why is a pledge so important to Vanderbilt Law School?

Annual alumni giving participation has a tangible impact on the law school's competitive ranking. By making a pledge to the law school, you can begin a cycle of regular philanthropy that will stick with you for life. A high giving rate shows law firms, foundations and prospective students that alumni truly believe in Vanderbilt Law School. Other top law schools' graduating class gift committees report participation levels at over 90%.

3. Will our gifts really make a difference?

Absolutely -- participation matters most. Pledges of any amount are greatly appreciated. The fact that you give is more important than the amount. Your commitment is especially meaningful given the current economic climate.

4. Are gifts tax deductible?

Yes. Once you begin making payments on your pledge, the donations are deductible from federal income tax if the donor itemizes deductions when filing his or her tax return. Donors may also be eligible to claim state income tax credit.

5. When do we begin paying off pledges and how do we make payments?

You pay nothing up front when you pledge. By making a pledge, you agree to contribute a gift in each fiscal year for the first three years after graduation. Vanderbilt's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. You may choose which month you would like to receive a pledge reminder by mail. You may make a payment on a pledge by sending a check by mail or using a credit card on the secure online giving site.

You can give in any amount, and you can graduate your payments (e.g., give $50 the first year, $100 the second year, $150 the third year, etc.). The first pledge payment will not be due until you receive a pledge reminder from the gift processing office in the month you chose on the pledge form (between July 2011 and June 2012).

If you would like to make a gift before graduation, please click here to give online (make sure to choose law school from the drop down menu and note the name of the fund(s) in the special comments box), or print the class gift form and bring it along with your check to Kathryn Carmody in the Development & Alumni Relations (142 Center building).

6. If I make a pledge, will I still receive solicitations from Vanderbilt after graduation?

If you have a pledge payment due within Vanderbilt's fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) you will not receive most mass solicitations. However, there is the possibility that you will be asked by other Vanderbilt Law alumni to give back. For example, many law alumni participate in the annual Firm Giving campaign. Currently, about 100 VULS alumni at firms and corporations throughout the country and abroad serve as VULS Firm Representatives. They ask other Vandy Law alumni at their firm to make an annual gift to the law school so that their firm will appear on the 100% Giving Honor Roll, which is published in the Lawyer magazine, online, and displayed in the Law School and Career Services suite during on-campus interviews. To learn more, visit the Firm Giving website.

7. Do I have to pledge to the Chris Lantz Fund and/or the Public Service Initiative, or can I choose another fund?

You can choose to support another exisiting law school fund either in addition to or instead of the official class gift funds. Click here to see a list of other popular fund options.

8. How do I make my pledge?

To make a pledge, please go to the secure online Class Gift Pledge Form. (Please sign in using “vanderbiltVUNetID” and then your password.)

For more information, please contact class gift co-chairs Anne Gooch and Steven Haymore, or Kathryn Carmody in the Development & Alumni Relations office (142 Center Building).