During the 10 evenings of last fall’s 28th annual Telefund, a spacious conference room adjacent to the Scott Hall cafeteria was transformed into a telemarketer’s heaven. Rows of temporary phone banks were installed not to move merchandise, but to carry out the Medical Alumni Association’s premier fund raising event. As 110 alumni and student volunteers contacted thousands of School of Medicine alumni across the nation, alumni responded enthusiastically to the calls for support.

With tallies still underway, the gift total approached $450,000. Almost 2,000 pledges have been counted, including more than $100,000 in gifts received in response to a September pre-letter, inviting alums to send their pledges in advance of the first night of calling.

The top pledge-raiser was Dr. Merle “Pete” Rydesky, ’64, hard-working Telefund chair, who placed calls nightly throughout the campaign and raised $29,350. Other leading alumni pledge-raisers were association president Bruce Deschere, MD, ’77, who raised $13,640, and Thomas Ditkoff, MD, ’71, whose calls produced $9,935 in gifts. As in previous years, Dr. Ditkoff generously provided his Southfield office for use as a satellite calling outpost.

Leading student pledge-getters were Ayad Abrou ($13,035), Samantha Anne ($12,927), and Erica Hemphill-Rose ($11,700). Tambourine interludes, crowns, tiaras, and prizes celebrated their successes, and those of other Telefund champions.

Gifts to the Medical Alumni Association’s Annual Fund advance the school’s missions by sponsoring educational programs and supporting student and alumni activities. The event was carried out by development officers Elsa Silverman and Janus Landrum, in collaboration with Department of Development and Alumni Affairs staff.