Haviland Society : Dick Cain BM '74 (Saxophone)

"I graduated in 1974 with a degree in Saxophone. I was in the jazz band my last three years and lead alto my junior and senior years. When I attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy (now UArts), almost all study was classical, the jazz band being the exception. My, have things changed. For the positive. In 1974, there was no fundraising mechanism, no endowment and very few contributions of any kind. Around 1987, I had lunch with then President Peter Solmssen and was impressed with how far the University had come since I attended and decided to give to the annual fund, I think $100. Around 1994 and years thereafter, I renewed my friendship with Marc Dicciani BM ’75 (Percussion), wrote a letter of recommendation for Don Glanden (still at the University and one of the best educators around), served on the Alumni Council and began my 20-plus years of contributing to the Haviland Society. 

"Some of my reasons for contributing to UArts came from contact and involvement. But I also had a good example in this regard: my father. He grew up relatively poor with immigrant parents in New York City. He was born in the apartment, no money for the hospital. He slept in the same bed with his sister until he was 12 and was the chosen one to go to college. His English father instilled in him the value of an education that he never had, and from an early age, taught him math and science. After he graduated from Brown University, he gave back by creating a foundation in his name. His contribution was matched by his employer, and after over 40 years, was quite proud of the impact that his donations had made. 

"I give to UArts because it is part of my legacy. The students of today are receiving a quality education, in my mind better than the one I received, and every little bit helps to propel the vision into the fast and ever-changing future."