The 1975 Purdue Fiji class has been blessed with a continuity of friendships that personify the “not for college days alone” mantra. Over the past 40+ years we have gotten together on many occasions all around the country. Sometimes just the guys, sometimes with our spouses and occasionally with our families. One of the greatest parts of all of this, beyond time with our pledge brothers, is that our wives and children have also become great friends that are in contact as much or more than some of the brothers. We are so fortunate to have grown closer over the years as we have shared life together.
Examples of our gatherings most recently was when 15 pledge brothers gathered last summer in Beaver Creek, Colorado, and this spring, 11 of us are meeting in Lexington, Kentucky to taste a bit of bourbon and see some horse racing. We have gone river rafting, wine tasting, hot air balloon riding, visited Martha’s Vineyard, hiked in Colorado and more. We truly enjoy being together no matter what we do.
All of the above being said, we also decided many years ago that our gatherings could be more than social times but should also incorporate a giving back component. We are so blessed as a group and we all desire to make a difference in our world. The following are some examples of our “Giving Back” activities in recent years.
Brother Rick Oliver organized a working weekend at City Life Center at Bethel church in Gary, Indiana. A number of brothers and their wives spent a couple of days working along side church members on a cleanup weekend. We also raised enough money to refinish their gymnasium floor which is a huge part of their community outreach. Great to have the Fijis giving back team embraced by the community as we worked together.
Brother JT McCarty set up a weekend at the Dreamcenter in Evansville Indiana where our guys and wives volunteered. Dream Center is committed to helping the disadvantaged in the Jacobsville neighborhood of Evansville. Their concept is by helping the youth with a safe place to be assisted, mentored, and gain skills that they may thrive in their lives. The Fiji team spent a day with the kids and raised funding to have ongoing assistance in their community.
Our next giving back time will be next fall on the Purdue campus. Over the past couple of years, we lost Frank Will, a pledge brother and the wife of a pledge brother, Jean Oliver, to cancer. In their memory we raised money and will plant trees in their memory at Pickett Park which is on campus at the corner of West Stadium and McCormick Road. These trees and more will anchor a new area of the park designated as “Friendship Grove”. The concept of the Friendship Grove is to honor and remember and appreciate all the friendships we began during our days at Purdue. The FIJI class of 1975 giving back project in this case will be a gift to existing and future Purdue students and visitors to campus reminding all the great value of friendships established at Purdue.
FIJI’S Giving Back has been a blessing for our class, as we strive to identify needs within our communities and then take action to make a difference where we can.
Our brotherhood is truly “Not for College Days Alone”!
