Our Crowdfunding Groups
Thank you for your generous donation to the Brian Lyons Memorial Scholarship. We are thrilled that 55 people have made donations since the 50 Days of Giving Crowdfunding started, including many who never had the pleasure to meet Brian. We wish you had heard Brian's funny stories, seen his outrageous Halloween costumes, and learned from his masterful command of many subjects. Hopefully the video at launch.umd.edu gave you a small taste of what a fun, smart guy he was and how much he loved life!
Please consider making your financial gift a recurring donation for the next three years, either monthly or annually. Any amount is appreciated. We know that it is hard to give a lot of money at one time, but hope the scholarship will continue to grow in the months to come, and a recurring donation is an easy way to make that happen.
Just contact Megan Carnell, Senior Director Development and Alumni Relations, at mcarnell@umd.edu, or via phone (301) 405-0205 to set up your recurring donation.
Our goal of $17,000 in 50 days was admittedly ambitious, but I love to think big, and hope to attain our goal in the months to come if we don't get there in the next 19 days. Even if we don't achieve a $50,000 endowment by February 19th, which would have been Brian's 50th birthday, we hope to get there soon, and you can be a part.
The Computer Science students at the University of Maryland are grateful to you for your support, and hope that you will tell all your friends about the scholarship.
Thank you for your financial donation. It means so much to so many.
Yours in Hope,
Tamara
We have some exiting news to share! An anonymous donor is willing to match on a 1:1 basis gifts up to $2,500 made between now and the end of the campaign on February 16th! This will bring us VERY close to our goal of increasing the Brian Lyons Scholarship Endowment to $50,000 in honor of Brian's 50th Birthday.
I am so moved by the generosity of so many. As of this morning, 75 donors have contributed $11,765, bringing us to 69% of our goal. Here are a few things you could do to help us in this final stretch:
Many thanks to all of you for your generosity that will help future University of Maryland computer science students for years to come!
Yours in Hope,
Tamara
I thank each and every one of you!
Don’t let him/her off the hook!
--Margaret Mead
WE DID IT! THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WE HIT OUR GOAL LATE LAST NIGHT. THE TOTAL RAISED AS OF 11:59:59 PM ON 2/16/15 WAS $17,076. It was definitely a squeaker, so whatever you gave was instrumental, and you should be very proud.
So, what does this mean to the BRIAN LYONS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP? The Scholarship now has $50,076 in its endowment, and will be generating at least one $2500 scholarship every year for deserving students at the University of Maryland!
I thank you for putting up with me, and my updates on this crowdfunding effort. I am humbled that 116 different donors gave; some of you who gave were Brian's friends, family or colleagues, and I know you miss him and felt this was a way to honor his memory. Yet, just as many of you who donated, never even met Brian, but gave because of your affection for Asher and me, or the University of Maryland, or because you believe in paying it forward. I am overcome with emotion as I think about this aspect of the fundraising campaign.
An endeavor of this type is stressful, because you never know how things will pan out. But, this turned out to be a wonderful way to
1. reminisce about a man who deserves to be remembered,
2. post fun photos of his amazing life,
3. keep Brian's legacy alive -- and hitting our fundraising goal is just the gravy!
Brian would have turned 50 on Thursday, February 19th, -- while sadly he is not here to revel in this milestone, you have helped me celebrate his life in a big way, and for that I am eternally grateful. I am sure Brian is enjoying himself, possibly drinking a 3 liter bottle of bubbly, setting off illegal fireworks, and dancing the night away. He always loved a good party!
Finally, the University of Maryland TERP magazine just released a story about Brian's crowdfunding campaign in the latest issue. The issue should reach people's homes today, so we have decided to keep the site open for 2 more days, as there is a call to action in the article, and we hope some folks will donate. Perhaps you know someone who wanted to donate but forgot? Please tell them to go to ter.ps/lyonsfund and make their donation before midnight on February 19th.
Thank you again for everything.
Gratefully yours,
Tamara H. Lyons and Asher F. Lyons
P.S. We still welcome 3 or 5 year commitments to give to the scholarship, and will count towards this crowdfunding effort. They may be set up by contacting Megan at mcarnell@umd.edu