"Being a Contributor"
Whatever Eric Callow '70 does--whether it's his work as a financial planner and investment adviser at Merrill Lynch, or his devotion to the fine art of fly fishing, or his active support of his alma mater--he does it with conviction and high energy.
Callow, who is co-chair of his 30th class reunion fund, has shown his true colors time and again for Pomona. In addition to leading the reunion fund, he frequently sponsors "Pomonathons" (phonathons, Pomona-style) at his Pasadena office and has served on the Alumni Council as a regional chapter chair.
"If you really believe in what you are asking for, then it feels okay to ask others for their support," says Callow of his fundraising efforts for the Annual Fund. This feels especially true for Callow today because the gift from his class is earmarked for scholarships.
"I like the fact that Pomona has a need-blind admissions policy. It is my conviction that growth and economic globalization are fundamentally good things for the world. They embody the principle of making the process available to everyone, irrespective of their current financial resources, and that principle extends to a college like Pomona," says Callow. "All deserving students need access to higher education--and we need their talents. It is important to take the extra step to make Pomona available to them."
Callow and his reunion fund co-chair, Dr. Fred Coleman '70, have set an ambitious goal for their class, hoping to surpass the 30th reunion fund record of $121,710 and their class's record of 62 percent participation. "Raising a gift for scholarships gives us and our classmates a sense of purpose," he says.
Callow chose Pomona for its reputation as a small liberal arts college; and growing up in nearby Cucamonga exposed him to Claremont. "Claremont felt like a college town and I had a sense of what life would be like there," says Callow, who graduated from Alta Loma High School. "Besides, Pomona admitted me, while Dartmouth and Yale did not," he quips.
At Pomona, he majored in philosophy because he intended to study law. But after a good start in law school, Callow's interests led him to his MBA from UCLA's Graduate School of Management (now the Anderson School of Management).
One of Callow's best memories of the College is of Stephen Erickson, professor of philosophy, who has taught at Pomona since 1964. "I am sure many would agree that Erickson was an engaging lecturer. He presented ideas in a stimulating fashion and elicited interest. One semester, our class read Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, which I found absolutely fascinating," recalls Callow.
For Callow, memories such as this one are reminders of what he sees as a meritorious cause. "When the purpose is worthy and my efforts can be effective, then I respond. I like to contribute and enjoy making things happen. Fundraising and volunteering are something I know how to do," he says.
Callow, a single parent, hopes to teach his 14-year old daughter and 10-year old son the value of volunteering and foster in them a sense of "being a contributor." He served on the boards, and raised funds for, their childcare center and his daughter's school. He has also participated in the annual fund of his church. Today, he serves on the board of the Pasadena Casting Club, a 50-year-old organization that promotes fly-fishing and is also concerned with conservation issues. Callow's objective is to partner with state and national conservation organizations to protect habitats for wild steelhead and trout.
Rich Watkins, director of annual giving, says, "Not surprisingly, Eric has pulled together a terrific 30th reunion fund committee, and they've been pretty effective in getting their work done. With Eric and Fred in the lead for this class, I think this year's 30th reunion class will have a banner year."
--Linda Moffa
