Tammy Fisher
Director of Public Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
909-785-2016 voice
tfisher@lasierra.edu
June 9, 2003

Riverside, CA—As a partnership with the local community, La Sierra University recently established it’s first Foundation Board with 56 Directors. The Foundation was created to provide leadership and financial guidance on university projects and development, to be an advocate and promote the goals and plans of the university.

“We are really thrilled by the stature of individuals who have accepted the positions of Foundation Directors,” says Jeffry Kaatz, Vice President for Advancement and University Relations. “Many of these key influential community leaders accepted these position due to the respect they have for our president, Dr. Geraty.”

Some of the Foundation Directors include: Dr. Ronald Loveridge, Mayor City of Riverside and President, California League of Cities: Mr. Rod Pacheco, Riverside Deputy District Attorney, Former State Assembly Minority Leader: Dr. Joan Coggin, Loma Linda Physician, Educator, Dr. David Cornwall, President and Publisher, Press-Enterprise: Dr. James Erickson, Emeritus Vice Chancellor, University of California: Ms. Cindy Roth, President Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce: and Mr. Henry Coil, Chair, Tilden and Coil Constructors, Inc.

“La Sierra University is a big part of the Riverside Community,” says Lawrence T. Geraty, President of La Sierra University. “We strengthen each other and provide invaluable resources each to the other.”

The responsibilities of the Foundation Board Directors is to serve as a community sounding board, promoting the university as ambassadors, and providing influence and stature from the community to the university, as outlined by Dr. Geraty. Thirty-four of the 56 founding directors attended the first meeting, which took place April 29, 2003 at the university. The meeting served as an introduction of La Sierra University to the attendees, many of whom have never been on campus.

Mark Rubin, a holocaust survivor, President of Regional Properties, and a Foundation Director, helped observe Holocaust Remembrance Day by describing his experience, noting that he seldom speaks about this part of his life. His testimony was supplemented by a performance of the theme from “Schindler’s List” played by Jason Uyeyama, Associate Professor of Music at La Sierra University, on the violin, accompanied by Kimo Smith, Assistant Professor of Music at La Sierra University, on the piano. La Sierra University Board of Trustees Chair, Elder Thomas J. Mostert, Jr., president of the Seventh-day Adventist Pacific Union Conference, was unable to attend the meeting and welcomed all to the first Foundation Board meeting via video.

Foundation officers currently include University staff: Dr. Lawrence T. Geraty, President, will serve as the Foundation Chair, pro tem, Mr. David Geriguis, Vice President for Financial Administration, will serve as the Foundation Treasurer, and Dr. Jeffry Kaatz, Vice President for Advancement and University Relations, will serve as the Foundation Executive Director. The next meeting will be held in October.

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