College President Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80 and three other administrators will make their way down the Eastern Seaboard late next month to sunny Florida. But this is no spring break they are taking. The trip is strictly business.

PC has a large and active alumni population in Florida. For many of them, this will be their first chance to meet Father Shanley since he became president in July 2005.

Accompanying Father Shanley on the trip will be David C. Wegrzyn, the newly appointed vice president for institutional advancement; Joseph P. Brum ’68, special assistant to the president for development projects; and Robert Ferreira ’83, assistant vice president for alumni relations in the institutional advancement office. 

“The purpose of the trip is to keep Florida alumni and friends involved in the College and keep them apprised of new developments on campus such as the construction of the fitness center,” said Brum. “We also want to encourage alumni to contribute to the College. We specifically want to ask them to consider including PC in their charitable giving and estate plans.”

The trip begins on Sunday, February 25, in Jupiter on Florida’s Atlantic coast with a reception for alumni and friends at the Jupiter Hills Country Club from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will be hosted by Edward O’Donnell ’71.

On Wednesday, February 28, the PC group heads across the peninsula, alighting in Tampa. There, on the campus of the University of South Florida, the resident Bulls will take on the visiting Friars’ men’s basketball team in a BIG EAST Conference contest. PC alumni and friends will attend the game and also enjoy a reception at the university's Gibbons Alumni Center in Traditions Hall.

A third and final reception will be held for Florida alumni and friends on Friday, March 2, in Naples. It will be hosted by Michael ’65 and Jane Smith from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Michael is a member of PC’s Board of Trustees.

In between the three receptions, Father Shanley, Wegrzyn, Brum, and Ferreira will meet with alumni and friends at a number of other private luncheons and dinners.

For more information on the scheduled events, contact Brum at 401-865-2411 or at joebrum@providence.edu.