MISSION STATEMENT
The 98 Fund (The West Point Class of 1998 Memorial Scholarship Fund) raises and invests monies to provide support to veterans of the United States, their families, and their children. The intent of this fund is to show solidarity and help veterans and their families by supporting their needs following service to our nation. Three Pillars of The 98 Fund:
1) Educational Support to the Children of our Fallen
2) Assistance to the Veteran and their Families
3) Mentoring retreat for Families of the Fallen
ABOUT THE 98 FUND
In October of 2008, members of the United States Military Academy’s Class of 1998 stood together at their Ten Year Reunion, reminiscing about their first decade as members of “The Long Gray Line”. Their lives had changed inextricably in that short span – they had left West Point in May of 1998 with the class motto “Duty Will Not Wait”, perhaps not fully realizing what the profession of arms would mean to them. Ten short years later, these classmates had deployed all over the world – to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, and a few other little places most folks will never hear about. All had lost friends and classmates in the process. As such, the class adopted a new motto for their reunion – “Duty Did Not Wait”. As they paid tribute to their fallen brethren at the reunion, a small group of classmates decided that Duty did not end with military service. They determined that the best possible tribute to those who had paid the ultimate price for our nation was to ensure the well-being of their families. The plan for a Memorial Scholarship was born. Two years later, the West Point Class of 1998 Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc. (“The 98 Fund”) was fully incorporated in the State of Virginia and the fund is officially recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization (EIN: 32-0289471). As the years have progressed since the founding of The 98 Fund, we have started evolving through several stages:
Class Centric Fund Raising. During this phase we raised awareness amongst the members of the Class of 1998 and friends of the Class of 1998. We sought personal and corporate donations, both monetary and in-kind. These funds acted as a baseline for our investment account and cover the very minor operational expenses of the organization. Once the organization integrated our supporters from the Class of 1998, we expanded more broadly by approaching corporate partners and the general public. During this phase we are reaching out to friends of The 98 Fund for introductions to outstanding individuals and corporations who are passionate about assisting the families of the fallen. Our goal is to increase momentum ahead of our 20th Class Reunion in the Fall of 2018 and work towards our million dollar fundraising goal. Meetings Needs & Providing Help. As our Fund has grown and its mission expanded, we have been able to provide support to classmates in need as well as surviving families in financial and tangible ways. We look forward to awarding scholarships in the next few years as the children of our fallen classmates become old enough to enter college as well to continue working to preserve the memories of the people we remember and love. Our financial approach:
We are dedicated to provide the highest percent possible of donations to support education scholarships. All board members and officers are working pro-bono. As a non-profit organization focused on supporting our classmate’s families, we want to keep our overhead as low as possible, which at this time, simply means website fees and office supplies. This is possible because of the donation of time and resources from a multitude of people. In addition to the board of directors, the law firm of Morrison & Forrester LLP has donated innumerable hours to make this fund a reality. What you can do:
1) Donate monetarily to our cause. Quite simply, without your financial support, The 98 Fund does not exist and we cannot support the families of the fallen. Please click the DONATE buttons throughout the site and we’ll process your gift securely through PayPal.
2) Give us a small bit of your time. Given the diverse talent and experiences of both The Class of 1998 and those that support it, we know we can accomplish incredible things. Whether you have an hour or two to spare, or want to get involved in a broader long-term manner, we’d sincerely appreciate your help.
3) Spread the word. We understand not everyone can donate and some people simply have no time left to give. If nothing else, please tell people about us. They can’t help the cause if they don’t know we exist! Thank you for your support of “The 98 Fund” managed by the West Point Class of 1998 Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc.. We sincerely appreciate it. Our Board & Volunteers
The 98 Fund Board is made up of volunteers from West Point’s Class of 1998. As The 98 Fund has grown, and as outside obligations have changed, some initial board members have changed roles while still being part of The 98 Fund. We are grateful for the work all of them have done and continue to do. (An asterix (*) indicates that person was a founding member of The 98Fund.). Learn more about the current board members on our website. Executive Leadership:
President: Mark DeRocchi*
Chairman: John Serafini*
Vice President: Mark Weaver*
Operations: Jason Kostal
Board Members:
Bill Song
George Woods
Michelle Robbins LaVicka
Nick Palmisciano*
Scotty Galloway
Traci Voelke
Associate Board Members:
Anderson Puckett
Billy Gibbs
Chris McQuillan
Hayley Zeidman ('99 Legacy Fund)
Michael Avey
Michael Todd ('99 Legacy Fund)
Stacy Tomic
Board Member in Memoriam: Tim O’Connor
Advisors & Support:
Class Contact: Sammy Sok*
Legal Advisor: Jeff Showalter*
