Past Presidents' Message
Spring 2005A Message from the 2005 ASCE Foundation Chair William P. Henry, P.E., F.ASCE
"To the engineer falls the task of clothing the bare bones of science with life, comfort, and hope."—Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States and civil engineer
ASCE is deeply rooted in a tradition of civil engineers bringing life, comfort, and hope to our communities, to our nation, and to people throughout the world. This tradition continues to guide ASCE's programs today, as well as the ASCE Foundation's mission to generate resources for many of these programs and the civil engineering profession in general.
During the first few months of my ASCE presidency, I have been highlighting three ASCE commitments that pertain to this tradition: 1) embracing a stance of zero tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption in the Engineering and Construction industry, 2) forging ahead with ASCE's community service initiatives, and 3) remaining active in the political process to influence public policy. Hand-in-hand with these efforts is the need for civil engineers to also engage in philanthropy.
Philanthropy is a Greek word defined as the "love of mankind." It has been said that philanthropy and volunteerism are uniquely American traditions, and their pervasive presence in our lives is often taken for granted. Sadly, the same could be said of the contributions of civil engineers. Our contributions to the quality of life are indeed a pervasive presence in lives of people all over the world, but they regularly are overlooked, unappreciated, and taken for granted.
I challenge my fellow ASCE members to embrace philanthropy - as well as ethical business practices, community service, and political involvement - as a means to elevate our profession in the eyes of the world. Collectively our philanthropy on behalf of civil engineering can reverberate well beyond our Sections and Branches to potentially impact people and places around the world.
Let me share with you how charitable gifts to the ASCE Foundation help to advance civil engineering and, ultimately, improve our quality of life.
Charitable contributions to the ASCE Foundation help to:
- provide scholarships to students who will be the next generation of civil engineers;
- train civil engineering faculty to be better teachers and improve the overall quality of civil engineering education in the U.S.;
- introduce middle school and high school students to civil engineering and to inspire them to become engineers;
- help diversify the civil engineering profession;
- promote awareness and understanding of our profession;
- reduce the cost of ASCE conferences and programs; and
- make grants to civil engineering-related organizations both in the U.S. and around the world.
If you agree with me that the ASCE Foundation is helping to advance civil engineering through the power of philanthropy, then please join me in making a charitable gift to the Foundation.
The Foundation staff is available to consult with you about giving opportunities, which range from annual appeal gifts or major gifts to sponsorships or planned gifts.
Please remember that a gift to the ASCE Foundation is truly a gift worth giving. No gift is too small, and each and every gift is meaningful.
If you have never made a charitable gift to the Foundation, please let me encourage you to start by making a gift to the 2005 Annual Appeal. I invite you to join me and the many ASCE members and friends who already have contributed this year. On behalf of the ASCE Foundation, thank you to each and every donor for their generosity and support.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't close by proclaiming... It's great to be a civil engineer! I hope you share my sentiment.
Sincerely yours,
William P. Henry, P.E., F.ASCE
Chair, ASCE Foundation
President, ASCE
Related Articles
- ASCE Foundation Home
- Message From the Chair
- Make a Gift to Support Civil Engineering
- Annual Appeal
- Transferring Stock to Make a Gift
- Estate Planning Information
- The Civil Engineering Legacy Society
- Sponsorships
- 2002: Building The Future Campaign
- About the ASCE Foundation
