Topic: AFTE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND (ASEF)

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Surely you will see the following message from Jim Hamby when you read the next issue of our delightful and informative newsletter, but here is again, in case you miss it.

https://afte.org/resources/scholarship-program/afte-scholarship-endowment-fund

Dear AFTE Colleagues,

A few years ago, some individuals approached our Board of Directors (BOD) and requested they consider establishing an endowment fund to ensure that scholarship funds continue to be available in the future. The BOD established the AFTE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND (ASEF), where monies would be deposited and the interest used to provide scholarships to deserving students from around the world. To date, several individuals have donated approximately $45,000 towards this fund.

Since 2001, AFTE has provided some 36 $2,000 scholarships to students from the following countries: Australia (1), Canada (1), India (1), New Zealand (1), United Kingdom (2), United States (29) and the West Indies (1). Many of these scholarship recipients are active today in the field of forensic science, including our field of firearm and toolmark identification.

I propose that we continue to grow the ASEF fund, potentially to $500,000, so we could then use the interest to provide scholarships in perpetuity. If everyone donated $500 to the ASEF, we could meet this goal. I recognize that not everyone will give that amount; some will give less, some will give $500, and some will give an even greater amount. If you decide to give monies for the ASEF, you can designate and honor someone – perhaps your training officer, a family member, a member of AFTE that has touched you, etc.

The ASEF has a number of donor levels, which include Contributor, Sponsor, Patron and Benefactor. If you
have already contributed, you can certainly add to your original contribution. My wife (a retired forensic scientist) and I are offering to provide a 15% matching donation for the first $100,000 that is donated to the ASEF. For example, if you donate $500, it becomes $575, $1,000 becomes $1,150, etc. If you can’t afford to donate $500 at one time, you can make payments until you reach your goal of whatever amount you desire. (If there are other individuals who would like to provide matching donations, that would be excellent.)

For further information concerning the ASEF, go to www.afte.org (under “Resources”) and click on “Scholarship information”. For additional information, contact Erin Mulligan, Scholarship Chair, via email at: aftescholarship @ gmail.com, or AFTE Treasurer Melissa Oberg. Donations can be made using PayPal (on the AFTE webpage) or by Mail-In donations using your check, money order or bank draft (ASEF Donation Form available on the AFTE Webpage).

Wouldn’t it be great to build the fund to $500,000 by our 50th Anniversary in 2019 (500K by 50)? So please
consider making a donation to the ASEF. Read the information on our website for more information.

Thank you.
Fraternally Yours,
Jim Hamby