Often, as parents watch their children grow and thrive at Georgia Tech, they choose to make a gift in honor of their child’s experience, beginning deep conversations about family values and leading to integral philanthropic support directed across campus. Inspired by their children’s experiences and their own involvement at Tech, parents Alan Kirshenbaum, Terrence Hahn and Joan Stanescu, and Michele and Grant Campbell have supported the Institute through well-placed philanthropy and service on the Parents Board.

Kirshenbaum knew the importance of giving from a young age, and has dedicated time and resources to causes close to his heart. One of his three children, Joshua, is an electrical engineering student at Tech. Since Joshua’s matriculation, Kirshenbaum has supported multiple areas at Tech, including the John Lewis Student Leadership Pathways, a program that equips students with holistic leadership skills in the tradition of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis; the Parents Fund, one of Tech’s primary sources of financial support for students and student organizations; and a family legacy endowment, a fund parents set up while their child is a student at Tech and the child selects the designation of the gift.

He hopes his philanthropy and service on the Parents Board will instill in his children the value of supporting areas that make a difference in the world. “My parents taught me a philanthropic focus,” Kirshenbaum said. “And I’ve tried to teach that to my kids by having them involved in the charitable giving that I do.”

Two of Joan Stanescu and Terrence Hahn’s three daughters currently attend Georgia Tech — Jocelyn, a fourth-year biomedical engineering student, and Rene, a third-year mechanical engineering student. The Hahn children grew up all over the world and first learned about Tech when they moved from Switzerland to the United States while in high school. “We visited Tech and knew it aligned with our criteria,” said the Hahn sisters. “It is a best-in-class engineering university with amazing academics, a beautiful campus, a diverse student body, and study abroad programs — and it’s in the center of a dynamic city.”

Throughout Jocelyn and Rene’s time at Tech, the family has been impressed by the students and faculty. These factors, along with the family’s dedication to education and helping others, have inspired them to provide support for the Biomedical Engineering Design Garden and to establish family legacy endowments for Rene and Jocelyn. 

Michele and Grant Campbell knew they wanted to be involved at Tech from the moment they dropped off their son, Cole, for FASET orientation. They heard faculty and administrators speak about the Institute and were immediately impressed. “It felt like coming home,” said Michele. In Cole’s four years as a mechanical engineering student, they have become more impassioned about Tech and its prioritization of students and the student experience.

The Campbells have included Cole throughout the process of making their planned gift and a family legacy endowment as a way to discuss important life lessons. “We’ve given to charities over the years, but now that Cole is an adult, we are partnering with him and talking about how we’re able to give back some of the blessings we’ve been given,” said Grant. “I hope this will lead to a lifelong notion that it’s important for him to keep doing things for the betterment of society.”

John Stein, associate vice president for Student Life and Brandt-Fritz Dean of Students Chair, has helped these families and others navigate the process of supporting the Institute. “Parent giving has been powerful and transformative for Georgia Tech and for the families that give,” he said. “I’ve seen many parents who can use these gifts as opportunities to begin or to continue important conversations about philanthropy and family values with their young adult children.” Parent giving provides the opportunity for families to have these meaningful conversations while supporting the Institute and its mission and contributing to the success of Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech.