[Erie, PA] Tonight the Jefferson Educational Society of Erie held a Fifth Anniversary Gala at the Bayfront Convention Center starting at 6:00 p.m.. A sell-out crowd of 400 people were in attendance as the Society celebrated its impressive success over the past five years. Attendees were entertained by five actors from the American Historical Theater in Philadelphia: Thomas Jefferson, Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Dolly Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
The JES Gala featured an important announcement regarding a $5,000,000 capital campaign over the next six to eight months. Dr. William P. Garvey, President of the Society informed the crowd that “we have already raised $3,725,000 from four major gifts.” A major gift of $3,000,000 was made by Charles Brock, a JES trustee, and his wife Carolyn to establish an endowment fund and to support annual operations for both the Jefferson Educational Society and its newly founded division, The Brock Institute for Mega Issues Education. In additions, three other major anonymous gifts of $500,000, $125,000, and $100,000 were made to the endowment by other Jefferson Educational Society trustees.
The evening festivities concluded with the announcement that Mr. Ferki Ferati, the current Executive Director of JES, has been promoted the Vice-President position in organization, effective immediately. Mr. Ferati has been with the Jefferson since its inception five years ago, and became Executive Director three years ago. He stated that his major challenge in his new position will be to make the Brock Institute a major a factor in advancing integrated education in colleges and universities throughout U.S., Canada, and Great Britain.
During its five years of existence the Jefferson Society has carried out the following accomplishments:
- Offered almost 450 programs in just over four years of operation
- Drew nearly 5,000 unique individuals to various programs since the fall of 2008
- Produced five major publications
- Held four Global Summits featuring speakers like E.J. Dionne, Paul Kennedy, General Michael Hayden, Francis Fukuyama, David Brooks, Karl Rove, and Norman Ornstein, amongst others
- Raised over $1.8 million to put on the Perry 200 Commemoration, a two-year long series of events that promises to be the greatest community celebration in Erie’s 200 year history
- Played a vital role in securing a $1.8 million HUD grant for the regional vision Destination Erie
