A Brief History

 

The U.S. Foundation of the University of the Valley of Guatemala was incorporated on June 9, 1977 in the State of Delaware.

 

The organizational meeting was held on January 27, 1978, and the following members were elected to the US Foundation:  Admiral R.C. Benitez, Mr. Burckhard Blob, Dr. Shelby Counce, Mr. Richard King, Mr. Walter B. Mahony, Jr., Mr. Frederic Rosengarten, Jr., Mr. William Skidmore, Mr. John Sly, and Mr. Joseph Weintraub.  Also in attendance at that meeting in Miami were Dr. Robert B. MacVean and Mr. John S. Nagel.

 

At that meeting the Directors reviewed the needs of the University, and how the US Foundation could help in funding such projects as a visiting faculty program, scholarships and conservation efforts, as well as assistance in the continuation of funding from the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad of USAID.

 

During the past thirty-one years, the US Foundation has supported the University in the following ways:

 

·         Securing USAID/ASHA funding for the construction of buildings, technology and equipment.

·         Providing scholarships for students.

·         Obtaining the assignment of Fulbright Scholars and other professors to teach at UVG.

·         Securing important gifts of scholarly publications and libraries.

·         Assisting in establishing relationships between UVG and universities in the US.

·         Supporting the Development Office at UVG.

·         Making contacts with organizations and leaders in the US who have an interest in assisting UVG.

·         Providing the administrative and grant management services required by ASHA.

 

The Foundation has always maintained the highest fiduciary standards, and has had annual audits performed of its books and records since 1984.

 

The first ASHA grant was approved in 1976 for $100,000, and that first grant has been followed by grants in most years to fund the infrastructure and equipment needs of the University.

 

In the early years of the US Foundation, the Directors began an aggressive fund raising effort for endowments.  Walter Mahoney persuaded Dewitt Wallace to establish the Readers Digest Scholarship Fund, and in 1983 Dr. Guillermo Sánchez worked with the Kidder family to create the Kidder Fund for the Chair in Archaeology at UVG.  From an early start of just over $200,000 in 1984, the total endowment of the US Foundation has grown to close to $2.9 million, as of April 2008, including bequests from Helen F. Franklin and Frederic and Miriam O. Rosengarten.

The Directors of the US Foundation meet twice each year, once at UVG, and a second meeting in the United States, often in Washington, D.C.  The US Board is made up of individuals who are committed to improving the quality and accessibility of education for the people of Guatemala.

 

Membership

 

          Allan Burns

            Laura Canuto

            Berkley Cone                          PRESIDENT

            Cristina Franco

            Alberto Gutierrez

            John R. Hamilton

            Jeffrey Horowitz                     VICE PRESIDENT

            Kenneth Jacobsen

            Lutz Lingnau

            Erick Mack

            Stephen W. Miller

            Peter Nash                             TREASURER

            Carlos Nottebohm

            Robert Sharer

            Jane Thery                             SECRETARY

            Kenneth Veronda

 

            Thomas Stroock                      Director Emeritus

            Robert Taichert                       Director Emeritus