Alumni Gifts Will Surpass Expectations

Alumni contributions to A Program for Harvard College have surpassed the expected figure and should bring the total of Program gifts and pledges to $60 million by the end of the drive, Laurence O. Pratt '26, Publicity Director, said yesterday.

The directors hope that the remaining $22.5 million will come from large corporation gifts, currently being solicited as part of the intensive final push.

Current Program strategy is also directed to stepping up efforts to reach every alumnus. This plan has three purposes: to increase the percentage of participation; to encourage those who have already given to contribute more, particularly in view of the extraordinarily high market in common stocks, and to encourage extended pledges of from three to five years.

Goal Will Be Reached

Pratt voiced optimism for the Program, saying that he is "sure" that the $82.5 million goal will be reached by June, 1959. He feels that a sufficient number of large gifts will be given in the next six months to meet the expectations of the directors.

With five-sixths of the time planned for the Program elapsed, however, approximately $50 million--about five-eights of the goal--have been received, and contributions must increase rapidly to achieve success.

White Joins Kirkland Staff

Alexander M. White '25, who resigned last week as chairman of the Program, has been named a Senior Associate of Kirkland House. He will begin his Associateship in January for an indefinite length of time.

Others on the Board of Overseers who will become Senior Associates are William G. Saltonstall '28, Francis Boyer '16, and Edwin A. Locke, all of whom will join Lowell House. James M. Faulkner '20 will become associated with Eliot House.