Led by trustee David Parmelee ’64, the Annual Alumni Fund reached an all-time high of $1.68 million, a 25 percent increase over last year’s record. Three hundred alumni volunteers joined the Annual Fund staff in increasing alumni participation by eight points to 47.3 percent, the highest level since 1989-90.

Mark Shriver and Dr. Patricia McKay of Atlanta, Ga., whose son Andy graduated from Bates this spring, coordinated the most successful Parents Fund in the college’s history. More than 1,000 Bates parents, past and present, contributed $258,000 to the Parents Annual Fund.

Overall, Bates received gifts totaling $7.6 million from a record 8,998 donors from all sources. The dollar total was raised despite the lowest bequest total since 1979. However, total gifts from alumni set a new record.

Also contributing to this highly successful year was $2.1 million in the form of life-income gifts, the largest amount ever received in this category at Bates. These gifts pay their donors a lifetime income and are then used for the charitable interests at Bates identified by the donors.

“It was a satisfying and productive year for the Bates development program and the college, which is grateful for the financial support offered and the distinctions it brings Bates,” said Ronald A. Joyce, vice president for development and alumni.