Joseph Harrington '61, SM '63, ScD '66
Joe Harrington Finds Fundraising Fruitful
Bronze
Beaver recipient Joseph Harrington '61, SM '63, ScD '66 enjoys his afternoon at the 2006 ALC Awards Luncheon. Photo: Justin Knight.
"The great thing about volunteering at MIT is that you can shop around and find something that fits you," notes 2006 Bronze Beaver recipient Joseph Harrington '61, SM '63, ScD '66. He should know. He is a consummate volunteer who has given his energy to the Corporation Development Committee and Alumni Fund Board and served as an educational counselor, class officer, and Venture Mentoring Service volunteer. Yet raising funds for the Institute was something of a hurdle for the veteran volunteer.
"Up through my 25th reunion or so, I believed that I could do reunion events but could never do fundraising," he says. "Later on I tried it and not only wound up chairing my 40th and 45th reunion gift committees, I actually returned to MIT in a second career as a senior major gifts officer with MIT's Office of Resource Development. So my volunteer activities wound up teaching me something about myself and opening up a new career opportunity."
"It turns out that if you care enough, you can ask people for money," he reflects. "If you are blessed in life, you naturally want to give something back."
Fortunately for the Institute, Harrington and his classmates care deeply about keeping their alma mater strong. The class has several projects, all focused on scholarship support, that have enabled scores of students to come to MIT who might not otherwise have been able to attend.
"Other people's gifts of time and money made it possible for us to attend MIT. Those who can, should return the gifts," says Harrington, who clearly enjoys returning his.
