Brian's memorial fund has been getting some serious press
lately!
The article below was featured in the Summer 2012 edition of
Xavier Magazine. Some of the reactions
have been even more impressive. Anne
Ernst from Xavier's Development office let us know a very kind lady from
Twinsburg Ohio saw the article and was moved to action. Here is part of Anne's email to us: "I thought you might like to know that
_____ ______ read the article in the Xavier Magazine about you establishing the
Student Success and Retention Fund in Brian’s name. She was so impressed with the purpose of the
fund that she contacted us and asked how she could make a donation." I asked Anne if she had any connection to
Brian. Anne said: "None at
all. She was just impressed with the
article and the purpose of the fund."
All we can say is "wow" and "thank
you." The generosity of people is
simply amazing and inspiring. What a
great gift that will pay dividends down the road for these Xavier
students.
Happy Father's Day to Dads everywhere. Especially those who went to Xavier, paid for
their kids to go to Xavier and root for XU!
**********************************************************************************
Brian's Fund
By Felix Winternitz
When a Xavier student can’t quite meet the
monthly rent, handle a bookstore tab or pay off a niggling registrar
bill, that’s when the McCormick family steps in to help.
Matt and Susan McCormick come to the table offering
whatever it takes to keep a needy kid inside the Xavier classroom:
“There have been over 60 kids now where, whether it be rent money or
book money or registration fees, we’ve helped,” says Matt.
This
is the very reason that the couple established The Brian McCormick
Memorial Fund—to assist financially struggling students, regardless of
academic abilities. “Brian’s Fund is for anyone in economic distress, it
doesn’t matter, race, creed or whatever, they just have to be Xavier
students in immediate financial distress,” says Matt.
Matt,
who earned a BSBA in 1992 in finance and an MBA in 1995 in marketing,
and his wife Susan, a 1991 communications major with a minor in
business, are doing all this in the name and memory of Matt’s brother,
Brian, who died suddenly in 2008 at the age of 33. Brian graduated from
Xavier in 1997 with a BA in advertising. “We were truly blessed to have
him for 33 years,” says Matt. “Brian loved his family with his entire
heart and soul. He was truly one of a kind and would light up a room
with his boundless energy, amazing humor and unforgettable zest for
life. Brian also loved Xavier and enjoyed playing rugby for his school.
He was one of Xavier’s men’s basketball team’s most passionate fans. He
relished in our team’s victories, and absolutely loved beating UD in
every way possible.”
The establishment of Brian’s Fund is a bittersweet moment.
“This
is not what we wanted, of course,” says Susan. “We would much rather
have Brian still with us. But this is a fund that Brian always talked
about getting together. He was one of the biggest, most loyal fans of
Xavier. Brian just had this awesome spirit about him. He loved Xavier
and was always grateful for the chance it took on him.”
The
couple was gratified by the immediate reaction and support for the
fund. “So many people reached out to us when Brian died and wanted to
know what they could do,” says Susan. “Thanks to them and their
contributions, Brian’s memory will go on.”
“Can you
imagine the multiplier effect from these 60 students?” says Matt. “We
only ask they remember down the road, when they are in a position to
help Xavier students in need, that they remember what the fund did. That
would be a great end result.”
“The wonderful thing
is we are not talking big numbers,” says Susan. “It’s small numbers,
$200 here and $200 there. But the impact can be huge. Eventually, we’d
both like it where the fund is self-sustaining and around Xavier
forever.”
Matt is portfolio manager for Bahl &
Gaynor Investment Counsel Inc., and Susan is president at Blarney
Communications. Between the two of them, they spend a great deal of time
thinking and planning for the fund. The couple’s latest project
involved a huge Dana Gardens fundraising party before a Xavier-Dayton
basketball game.
The love for Xavier and its
community is a family affair for the McCormicks. “Our kids, who are age
10 and 6, are certifiably brainwashed about Xavier,” says Matt. “Let’s
put it this way: Both have been going to games since they were three
months old. My son can rattle off player numbers going back to David
West. They also, honestly, enjoy the Dippin’ Dots at Cintas.”
“We
have always had in our wills that we would give something to Xavier,”
says Matt. “We wanted to formalize a process to make a contribution that
will last longer than we will.”
