UR alumnus and Trustee Laurence “Larry” Bloch and his wife, Cindy, announced a gift to the University’s fundraising program and an endowment for the position of Chief Fundraising Officer, creating the “James D. Thompson Chief Advancement Officer: Endowed by Larry and Cindy Bloch” fund and the “Larry and Cindy Bloch Endowment for University Advancement.”
This was publicly announced at a dinner honoring James Thompson’s contribution to the University during his time as Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer.
The position of Chief Advancement Officer, previously held by Thompson, will now be known as the James D. Thompson Chief Advancement Officer. The position was created in honor of Mr. Bloch’s eight-year partnership with Thompson and will be funded by the Blochs’ gift.
The fund will support the head of the fundraising program.
“This gift will allow us to meet the significant challenges we will face in the road ahead for the development of our advancement program, far into the future,” UR President Joel Seligman said in a press release from UR Communications. “The Bloch’s choice to recognize Jim […] captures the true spirit of named positions, as we will be building on his hard work and great success. We are incredibly fortunate to so often be the beneficiaries of the Bloch’s generosity and counsel.”
Larry Bloch said, “When the Meliora Challenge surpassed $1.0 billion in gifts this past December, Cindy and I wanted to recognize that very important milestone by endowing and permanently naming the position of the University’s Chief Advancement Officer in Jim Thompson’s honor.”
Thompson was recruited to the University with Bloch’s help in 2006 and successfully developed and implemented a plan that expanded the University’s advancement program. The efforts include establishing giving societies, volunteer boards and faculty programs to increase the University’s visibility and outreach to alumni and friends, including the creation of the George Eastman Circle (GEC).
The Bloch’s are among the earliest founding members of the GEC and have been long-term donors to UR, making numerous gifts over the past 20 years. Larry Bloch also served as one of the two initial co-chairs of the GEC when it was first introduced.
Other gifts from the Blochs include the Bloch Fitness Center in Georgen Athletic Center and the famous George Eastman Statue on the Academic Quadrangle.
“As a University trustee, I have great appreciation for the quality of the University, its faculty, students and administration,” Larry Bloch said. “We believe strongly in the University’s educational, research and clinical mission and recognize that there is an intergenerational responsibility to support this mission.”
Larry Bloch expressed his dedication to reciprocating the benefits UR provided him with when he was a student here.
“I am greatly appreciative of my own education and experience as a former UR student and recognize that, as an alumnus, I benefited greatly from the generosity and foresightedness of those who came before me,” he said. “It is our time and responsibility to pay it forward.”
Larry Bloch said attracting support from the University community of students, faculty and alumni requires the leadership and example of Advancement organizations like the Larry and Cindy Block Endowment for University Advancement.
He continued, “Our thought was that the great and important work that goes on across this entire University […] very much requires significant philanthropic support.”
Larry Bloch, a private investor, received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UR in 1975 and has been a University Trustee since 1998, serving as chair of the board’s Development Committee, a member of the Executive Committee and vice-chair of West Coast efforts for The Meliora Challenge.
Kath is a member of the class of 2016.
