Making a world of difference (Spring, 2013)

May 01, 2013

Annual donor dinner celebrates campus water theme

There was no question about the choice of décor at the annual World of Difference dinner last fall. After all, the event, held Nov. 29, 2012, to celebrate donors who give $1,000 or more annually to the School or its academic units, was held during the first year of the University’s two-year, campus-wide “water” theme. It was also the year in which Don and Jennifer Holzworth, intent upon strengthening the efficacy of The Water Institute at UNC, endowed a professorship awarded to the Institute’s director, Dr. Jamie Bartram.

In a mise en scène engineered by event planner Jerry Salak, white hydrangeas and sparkling beads that appeared to be water drop¬lets graced the round, teal-draped tables. A light show designed by Maestro Productions featured images of water rivulets on the white columns in the atrium. The program cover included a photograph by Dan Sears, in which the Old Well is reflected in a series of raindrops. Even the menu spoke to the theme – a Tuscan vegetable soup called acquacotta (“cooked water”), salmon and poached pear.

Dean Barbara K. Rimer officially recognized Bartram as Holzworth Distinguished Professor at the dinner, and he and his benefactors were presented with University chairs.

Bartram also co-directs the campus-wide water theme program (watertheme.unc.edu), along with Dr. Terry Rhodes, professor of music and senior associate dean for fine arts and humanities.

Dr. Allen Mask, health team physician at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C., served as master of ceremonies for the evening. He introduced talks by students who were beneficiaries of generous support by donors, including Rachel Nethery (John and Diane Fryer Fellow), Melissa Sanchez, RN (Jean Tower Lassiter Scholar and John and Sallie Shuping Russell Scholar), and Tyrone Hall (Class of 2012 Annual Fund Scholar).

Among the attendees were members of the School’s Rosenau Society (who give an annual $1,000 or more in unrestricted funds), Cornerstone Society (who give $25,000 or more to the building fund, naming rooms and spaces), and those alumni and friends who have established endowed professorships, fellowships, scholarships and specialty funds.

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Carolina Public Health is a publication of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. To view previous issues, please visit sph.unc.edu/cphm/cph/.