Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Celebrates Successes

University Relations

Michael Miller, far right, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, and Emily Williams, second from right, director of development, join Josh Raney, third from right, and OLLI staff and volunteers recently to celebrate the organization's success.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute completed a successful fundraising campaign recently as well as making a strong start to a re-up membership drive.

In May, Michael Miller, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, in which OLLI is based, challenged OLLI members to participate by offering a matching gift challenge to celebrate OLLI's 10th anniversary at the U of A. OLLI raised funds to meet Miller's matching gift of up to $6,250 total.

OLLI is a member-driven organization. It provides opportunities to seasoned adults to share intellectual interests, make new friends, explore cultural topics and other thought-provoking subjects, and exchange ideas with peers.

The organization received more than $45,000 in private gift support for the fiscal year that ended June 30, including a $25,000 capacity-building grant from the Osher Foundation. Those funds will allow OLLI to develop an infrastructure to expand its programs and membership in innovative ways.

"The number of gifts and amount of support from OLLI members this past year was the most in our 10 years," said Josh Raney, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute director. "We are also already over 300 members and only three weeks into the new membership year."

A recent "ReUp Day" brought in 283 memberships, and new and renewing members can renew their memberships on the OLLI website. Priority registration for classes begins Aug. 22.

OLLI has a number of events planned for the 10th anniversary celebration.