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[no dialogue].
(male speaker). First, I'd like to welcome you
to the event.
Can we get a hand for the First Lady of EIU, Mrs. Linda Perry.
[audience applause].
The foundation president, Don Gher.
[audience applause].
And of course President Perry.
[audience applause].
And I'd like to introduce someone to you, last year I was
up here from Alabama all alone, but my wife has come up
and we're a total family again [unclear audio] Bob Martin.
[audience applause].
This is our final formal event to celebrate and where here
to celebrate and honor your generosity and commitment
to EIU with the pinning ceremony.
And what I'd like to start with first is to bring Don Gher
and President Perry up here to help hand out the pins.
[unclear audio].
It is for people who left a legacy with us through insurance
request, through [unclear audio], and something like that.
We have 15 new families that have joined this year,
we have a few of them here this afternoon.
I'd like to start with Wesley Whiteside, Wesley.
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
Thank you very much.
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
Don and Nancy Page.
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
[unclear audio] we started with a campaign beginning its gift
with a $100,000, $500,000.
We actually have 27 families that have joined us and a few
of them are here this afternoon to join us and I'd like to pull
them all up front.
Gene Giffin.
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
Jerry and Margaret Heath, Dr. Heath.
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
[unclear audio].
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
(Dr. William Perry). You have the most
distinguished escort.
[laughter].
[no dialogue].
(female speaker). I didn't know
I could be so funny.
[laughter].
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
(male speaker). Wesley Whiteside.
We should have done this at the same time.
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
[laughter].
(Dr. Perry). Paparazzi, they're such
a distraction.
[laughter].
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
[unclear audio].
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
The Keystone Society is the $50,000 giving group.
We have four new families [unclear audio] be here today.
The Cornerstone, $25,000 donation group and we have
20 new members and we have 4 of them here this afternoon.
Mary Todd.
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
(Dr. Perry). You know Mary is most proud,
most proud of this I Am EIU pin on this lapel.
They're rare, they're almost as rare as a Billy Panther Pin.
[laughter].
If you get a chance come up and admire it.
[audience applause].
(male speaker). William Hill.
[audience applause].
(Dr. Perry). You got to be careful
of giving a pin to Bill Hill because when we get close
to each other, in our basketball days, we start...
[laughter].
(Bill Hill). Thank you.
[audience applause].
(male speaker). Maxine Norland.
[audience applause].
(Dr. Perry). I have given Maxine
the EIU Blue Award for today.
[laughter].
This [unclear audio] beautiful and blue.
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
(male speaker). And someone who already
has a pin but I want to share with you his even deeper
commitment to EIU.
Is Dr. Bill and Linda Perry are members of the
Cornerstone Society, please give them a tremendous hand.
[audience applause].
At EIU we expect greatness and we definately deliver
and we thank you so much for you generosity and Dr. Perry,
if you'd like to say something.
(Dr. Perry). I would.
Of course Bob is in a difficult position here because
he couldn't recognize that he and Don are members
of the Heritage Society and I think we've got a couple more
pins up here so why don't you and Donna come on up.
[laughter].
[audience applause].
[no dialogue].
[audience applause].
Well this is just such a wonderful weekend,
the opportunity to be with friends who really believe in
what EIU is all about.
Especially to be with individuals who have made strong
commitments to Eastern Illinois University.
These pins that we give, they are tokens of our appreciation,
but we know that they're just outward symbols
of your commitment.
When we see it on the lapel, we know what's in your heart
and we know what you've given to EIU to support students,
to support faculty, to support programs, to support all
the great things that happens at Eastern Illinois University.
You and I both know that EIU is here for one reason,
we're a student-centered university, the university
is here to educate students and that means we're going
to support our faculty, and staff, and students every step
of the way.
We're going to expect greatness of ourselves and of each other,
of our students, and we stand now today poised to make some
very bold and strong moves, moving forward as a university,
because of the foundation has been built by individuals
in this room.
[unclear audio], Wes Whiteside, and others of you
who have given, Jerry D.
I look around the room, I see people who have been
on the faculty, staff, and administration and friends
of the university, individuals whose spouses have served
the university.
And because of this great fellowship of believers in EIU
and what it stands for and what it can be, we're here today.
We appreciate very much your support.
Everyone we arranged to present the pin to today, those who
couldn't be here today who would have received pins, and those
who have received pins in the past, it's a very long list,
a very long EIU blue line of believers in EIU, and I think
you should all be proud of what you've been able to do.
And when you're on campus or when you're out around
your community, and you see that pin, you know it's on the lapel,
but you also know what's in the heart.
Thank you for your support for EIU.
[audience applause].
So let's enjoy the food and the fellowship
in this beautiful facility, thank you.
[no dialogue].