In 1978, Richard Gilchrist bought a Red Lion Ale beer can for $2 at an antique store in the mountains of New York. Instead of adding it to his sons’ collection, he kept it in a safe deposit box. He could tell from its near-perfect condition that it was worth much more than $2.
Forty-two years later, Gilchrist sold the can for $8,500 at a Morean online auction. He and his wife, Sally Gilchrist ’65, chose to use the proceeds of the sale to support their recurring pledge to the Gilchrist Award for Applied Learning, which they established at SUNY Potsdam in 2015.
The couple has supported students at Sally’s alma mater through a variety of giving methods, from a matching gift with Richard’s former employer to a required minimum distribution from their IRA.
“The program where you can donate directly out of the IRA is very helpful,” Gilchrist shared. “That was kind of a gift to us.”
The Gilchrists are inspired to continue giving to SUNY Potsdam, in part, because of the extraordinary students their award has supported in the past. One of their recipients, Kadiatou Balde ’19, has become as close as family.
When Rich and Sally first met Kadiatou for lunch in Potsdam, they were incredibly impressed by her.
“Just her work record blew me away,” Rich shared. “She had enough time to be an exceptionally good student, to be president of the Student Government Association, and also to work. So, we were just thrilled that some of our scholarship money went to help her. We couldn’t think of a better use for it.”
The summer after Kadiatou graduated, the couple invited her and her brother to stay with them in their lake house, where they were able to get to know each other even more.
“I don’t think we made a difference in her. I think she made a difference in us,” Gilchrist explained. “We’re glad we did it, and we intend to continue. And the beer can was just an easy way to get there.”
To learn more about the many ways you can support SUNY Potsdam, including matching gifts and IRA distributions, visit potsdam.edu/giving/waystogive.