Posted June 5, 2000

IOWA CITY -- The 5,000th member of the Presidents Club of the University of Iowa was inducted by the UI Foundation at the 33rd annual Presidents Club Assembly on Saturday, June 3, at the Iowa Memorial Union. The late Don T. Patrick Steele, Sr., of Dubuque, Iowa, received the honorary designation from the club, which recognizes high-level, cumulative support to all areas of the University.

Don Steele, who died in 1998, earned a B.S.C. degree from the UI in 1938. The Steele family has endowed scholarships benefiting students in the Henry B. Tippie College of Business and generously supported UI athletics for a number of years. Steele's widow, Helen Steele of Dubuque, and his son Mike Steele, a 1977 UI alumnus who also lives in Dubuque, accepted the honor.

"It's a special pleasure to honor the Steeles, because they're a wonderful example of one Iowa family working to help other Iowa families achieve their dreams,'' said UI Foundation President Michael J. New. "Through their support for scholarship funds and other important UI initiatives, the Steeles have demonstrated the loyalty, commitment, and generosity that characterizes all President Club members."

The Presidents Club began in 1967 with 38 charter members. Prior to the 5,000th member milestone, as of Dec. 31, 1999, the membership included 4,513 Presidents Club members, of which 93 were Presidents Club Gold members (cumulative support of $1 million or more) and 227 were Presidents Club Silver members (cumulative support of $250,00 or more), and 477 businesses and organizations recognized as Presidents Club Associates.

An individual may become eligible for membership in the Presidents Club with an outright gift or 10-year pledge of at least $40,000 in cash, securities or real or personal property. Contributors who arrange for a deferred gift of at least $100,000 through a bequest, will or living trust may also qualify for membership.

Through outright gifts or long-term pledges, Presidents Club members invest in university programs, projects, scholarships, endowed professorships, research funding, facilities improvements and student-faculty development. Many serve on departmental and collegiate university committees.

During the June 3 assembly, Presidents Club members and guests toured a number of campus sites, including the Museum of Art; National Advanced Driving Simulator; College of Education and the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development; and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneural Center and the Iowa Electronic Markets at the Tippie College of Business. UI President Mary Sue Coleman addressed club members at a luncheon and dinner held in their honor.

The UI Foundation is the preferred channel for private contributions to all areas of the University. Foundation staff work with alumni and friends to generate funds for scholarships, professorships, facilities improvements, equipment purchases, research and other UI initiatives.

Contact Information

Olga Sassine
Director, The Presidents Club
(319) 335-3305 or (800) 648-6973