As we close out 2025 and look toward 2026, the Harvard Club of Alabama is focused on expanding engagement, improving communication, and creating meaningful opportunities for connection among alumni across the state. On September 30th, a quorum of current officers met to discuss goals for the future.

 

Below we share a recap of the meeting and welcome any and all comments from alumni. Please contact Will Wright (william.wright@gmail.com). 

 

Summary of what we want to do this year:

  1. Drive better engagement among alumni and with schools via 5 regular events.
  2. Improve communication, particularly sharing leadership notes and opportunities.
  3. Increase donations to grow the organization.

 

Details below:

 

Expanding Events and Engagement: We’re excited to confirm five key events that will anchor our annual calendar. These will be recurring events that we can all count on as alumni. They are also intentionally designed to engage with students.

  • February Super Saturday Interviews - Continuing the tradition of supporting local applicants, this event will be an interview “day” where we bring students and alumni together in one venue and knock out dozens of interviews as well as let alumni engage in between interviews.
  • April Harvard Book Prize - Beginning in April, we will send a Harvard Book Prize to selected Alabama high schools to recognize outstanding juniors who exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and community service. This event will bring together volunteers to help identify schools and coordinate sending Harvard Book Prizes. If alumni have connections to local schools, there will be a call to action for the names of guidance counselors.
  • July/ August Student Send-Off - Celebrating students heading to Cambridge and bringing the community together for encouragement and inspiration.
  • November Harvard–Yale Game Viewing - Coordinating with the Yale Club president for a joint event, with potential watch parties beyond Birmingham (e.g., Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile).
  • December Holiday Gathering & Speaker - Our year-end celebration will feature a distinguished speaker. We’ll be asking for speakers and seeking a venue shortly.

 

Strengthening Communication: We’ll be improving our newsletter and our digital presence. The goal for each is as follows:

  • Newsletter – Share a monthly newsletter that has upcoming events, a note for how an alumnus is creating change in Alabama, and a section for alumnito share business or other opportunities.
  • Digital presence – We will seek to improve and refine our digital presence. Once a year we will review it and ensure that it’s up to speed so that alumnicoming to Alabama know that they have a home with the club.

 

Financial and Organizational Growth - The Club currently maintains a modest financial reserve of ~$7,000, generated primarily through $25 membership. Our goal is to grow this to $10,000 - $25,000 through increased participation, sponsorships, and event revenue. These funds will help us expand programming and strengthen our long-term sustainability. How will we do this?

  1. Bringing on a student intern: We’re investing in Maddie Register, a current student from Eufaula, Alabama. She will receive a $500/ month stipend to help organize events, manage communications, and launch a consistent monthly newsletter. We hope to make this a regular activity to help bring capacity to the club.
  2. Annual call for donations (Now through December 31): We’re launching our Annual Fund to underwrite programming, events statewide, and our Harvard Book Prize initiative. The suggested giving levels are: $25, $100, $250, $500+

 

Why are we doing this? Because Social Capital Matters

For decades, social capital has been eroding in the US. We want to reverse that. Our mission is therefore simple: connect, support, and celebrate the Harvard community in Alabama while advancing leadership and service across the state. 

We would welcome your comments on this effort and if you’d like to donate, sponsor a Book Prize, volunteer, or share your story, we’d love to hear from you.

 

Will Wright

Current Presiden, Harvard Club of Alabama