It all started with one man’s vision.
Fifty years ago, then-AAPG President Michel Halbouty believed that the Association needed to start a foundation that would work to ensure the future of geosciences and energy development around the world, and he believed that the foundation would succeed only with the full support of the AAPG membership.
Halbouty’s vision obviously became a powerful reality. The AAPG Foundation has indeed provided the funding for a huge variety of geoscience projects, publications, lectures, scholarships, grants and other initiatives — all thanks solely to the generous giving of our members.
Literally thousands of lives have been impacted by the Foundation, which wouldn’t exist without our members. It’s been a wonderful story, told by all of you.
And it’s a story that continues.
The Trustees and those of us who work on the Foundation’s administrative and program areas often have the privilege of reading untold numbers of thank you letters from grant recipients, emotionally and often dramatically expressing their appreciation and thanks for the financial support they received from the Foundation.
A recent recipient of the Deana and Paul Strunk Military Veterans Scholarship Program, Nicolas Ferry, wrote, “Thank you for your generosity. Without scholarship patrons willing to support veteran students, students such as myself would be unable to pursue advanced degrees in geology.”
Ferry, a veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, is now pursuing a geology degree from Northern Illinois University toward his goal of becoming a petroleum geologist.
His sentiments have been echoed again and again by those who have received grants throughout the past five decades from the AAPG Foundation.
New Foundation Goals
At the beginning of 2017 the Trustees established two goals for the AAPG Foundation:
The Deana and Paul Strunk Military Veterans program, established in 2012 with an endowment goal of $1 million, is closing in on that goal, having received gifts of more than $979,000. The goal is in sight — but it can happen this year only with the help of the AAPG membership.
Once the goal is reached the program will be able to award $40,000 a year in scholarships to deserving veterans enabling them to achieve their dreams of a career in the geosciences.
- Increase the number of members of the Trustee Associates of the AAPG Foundation.
This Trustee Associates are the backbone of the Foundations financial support, giving 57 percent of the total contribution dollars given to the Foundation.
This group of dedicated donors is made up of AAPG members who want to leave a lasting legacy through the Foundation through their commitment of $10,000 or more. The purpose of the group is to not only provide help with the fundraising efforts of the Foundation, but to provide counsel to the Board of Trustees.
The Trustee Associates recently held their 40th annual meeting in Rockport, Maine, where they were apprised of Foundation activities and business, congratulated for their generosity and inspired to continue the effort to help ensure the future of geosciences.
And about that goal: Since April 24 new members have joined the group, bringing the total number of members to 275.
Officials now are hoping for and working toward seeing the number increased to 300.
Would you like to be part of that group?
Will you continue our story by designating your year-end gift to your favorite AAPG Foundation program?
Giving your year-end gift to the Foundation is as simple as three easy steps.
- Select your favorite program. (Additional details can be found at foundation.aapg.org).
- Add a tribute in honor or memory of a loved one, friend or colleague.
- Remit your gift by giving online, at foundation.aapg.org, or mailing your gift to AAPG Foundation, PO Box 979, Tulsa, OK 74101.