Alumnus Tom Baruch Initiates $200,000 Challenge

January 10, 2008

Thomas R. Baruch, a 1967 graduate of the Law School, has generously initiated a $200,000 major gift challenge in support of the Professor Emeritus John E. Sullivan Professorship.

The one-year matching challenge will end on Dec. 31, 2008, and when successful, will achieve the minimum $500,000 required to establish the Sullivan professorship. It also will provide the opportunity for the Law School to celebrate the Sullivan professorship during the 30 th anniversary of the John E. Sullivan Lecture in spring 2009.

“To date, approximately $100,000 in gifts and pledges have been received and the Baruch challenge will secure the remaining $400,000 necessary to establish the professorship. These endowed professorships are important to the Law School in helping us to attract and retain talented faculty,” said Dean Jack A. Guttenberg. “We plan to formally announce the first Professor Emeritus John E. Sullivan Professor of Law at the 30 th anniversary celebration of the John E. Sullivan Lecture next spring.”

In creating this challenge, Baruch said: “John Sullivan is a national treasure. We now have a great opportunity to honor a man who truly values teaching and his students. This is also an opportunity for more alumni to support their Law School and the goals of its strategic plan.”

To qualify for the Baruch challenge match:

• Donors must be J.D. graduates of the Law School.
• Gifts of $5,000 or more contributed by Dec. 31, 2008, up to commitments of $25,000 contributed over no more than five years will be matched.
• Gifts must be designated for the Professor Emeritus John E. Sullivan Professorship.

Baruch, a registered patent attorney, is founder and managing director of the San Francisco-based CMEA Ventures, a venture capital firm with a focus on life sciences, high technology and energy and materials investments. Baruch holds an engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. He honed his “early-stage” investment skills at Battelle Development Corporation, while he earned his law degree in the evening program at Capital.

The Baruch major gift challenge expires on Dec. 31, 2008. Gifts and pledge commitments totaling $200,000 must be secured to earn the match. For questions about the Professor Emeritus John E. Sullivan Professorship or the Baruch challenge match, contact John Strick, assistant dean for External Relations at 614-236-6603 or at jstrick@law.capital.edu.