Beet Week Celebrates Carey Philanthropy
Paying tribute to the giving philosophy of the Carey Business School, the second annual “Beet Week” celebration was held April 29 through May 2 at both Carey’s Harbor East and Washington, D.C. campuses. This year, approximately 600 students, in addition to faculty and staff as well as other stakeholders throughout the Carey community, participated in the festivities.
“Beet Week combines school spirit with powerful insights into business as well as reminders that we need a moral ‘North Star’ to guide us,” said Greg Bowman, associate dean for Development and Alumni Relations for Carey. “This is a great tradition for our school and a wonderful week for our community of students, faculty, and staff.”
Many students, in addition to faculty and staff, showed their support of the school and the Beet Week legacy by making donations throughout the four-day celebration, adding their names to the Beet Week donor wall at Harbor East. This year, 145 donations were received during the celebration.
Beet Week combines school spirit with powerful insights into business as well as reminders that we need a moral ‘North Star’ to guide us.”
Greg Bowman | Associate Dean, Development and Alumni Relations
Beet Week was designed to recognize graduating students’ transition to alumni and to honor the philanthropic legacy of the late William P. Carey, benefactor of the school. In 1987, Carey, philanthropist and founder of W.P. Carey & Co., a real estate financing firm, settled a 20-year debt with 80 sugar beet farmers in Colorado and Kansas, who worked for a processing company which went bankrupt in the 1960s. Although Carey’s family was only a minority shareholder in the firm and not legally responsible for the debt, he vowed at the time to make the farmers financially whole when his personal circumstances permitted. Twenty years later, Carey contacted every one of the original farming families involved, repaying the debt in full.
It was those qualities of responsibility, integrity, dedication, and humanity that influenced and infused the Beet Week events, starting with a kickoff celebration Monday, April 29, with Carey Dean Bernie Ferrari delivering welcoming remarks and sharing the giving legacy of W. P. Carey. Subsequent events included a “Student Leaders Forum” sharing opportunities and resources with soon-to-be Carey alumni; plus the philanthropy-focused “Business ‘Why’ for Philanthropy” session, featuring alumni and community leaders explaining how giving back enhances a professional skillset and strategies to incorporate that giving into a burgeoning career.
Other activities included a “Carey Fest” with casino games and food; a “Beet Week Game Day Live” knowledge competition with prizes; and the Beet Week Philanthropy Booth, where students and others in the Carey community could discover ways to support the school and make a pledge in the process.
The week’s festivities drew to a close once again with the “Beach Bash” wrap-up celebration on the waterfront peninsula adjoining Carey’s Harbor East campus.
“Beet Week provides a unique opportunity for our team to engage with students as they prepare to become alumni, and to encourage a culture of philanthropy throughout the network,” noted Sharon Trivino, director of constituent engagement for Carey. “It’s exciting to see this initiative become a signature experience for our soon-to-be alumni.”