Through a funding request submitted by George “Buzz” Heeschen, Phi Gamma Delta of MIT supports HudsonAlpha’s Innovation Fund

Peg and George “Buzz” Heeschen have been consistent supporters of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology for many years. Driven by Buzz’s career as an engineer and Peg’s as an educator, the pair are avid learners who are fascinated by scientific advancement.

Most recently, the Heeschens partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, Buzz’s fraternity, to increase their impact on HudsonAlpha’s mission by fueling the Innovation Fund. 

Buzz Heeschen on the MIT campus

After transferring to MIT as a junior from Ohio Wesleyan University, Buzz also transferred into MIT’s chapter of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, also known as Fiji. He had been an active member at Ohio Wesleyan and maintained ties with both chapters of the fraternity after graduation.

When an opportunity came along for the Heeschens to increase their support of HudsonAlpha’s mission by submitting a funding request to Phi Gamma Delta of MIT’s Fund, Buzz knew it was the right fit.

Read on as Buzz shares what inspired him to advocate for HudsonAlpha.

HudsonAlpha Foundation: It’s clear that philanthropy is something that means a lot to you and Peg. What causes do you care about supporting as a couple? How does HA align with that?

Buzz Heeschen: We support HudsonAlpha because it’s an important mission to us, and we know that HudsonAlpha contributes greatly to our community. We are especially interested in promoting scientific advancement right here in North Alabama. As lifelong learners, HudsonAlpha’s educational programs have also added a lot of value to our life, and we’d like to see that continue. 

HAF: You recently submitted an application for Phi Gamma Delta of MIT Fund to direct a generous gift to HudsonAlpha’s Innovation Fund. What inspired you to advocate for HudsonAlpha?

BH: We truly believe in HudsonAlpha. The Institute is on our minds a lot because we are so involved in the educational programs, and it was the first organization we thought of. The Phi Gamma Delta of MIT Fund expects to do this for several more years, and we would be happy to submit on behalf of HudsonAlpha again.

HAF: Why did you believe Phi Gamma Delta was the right organization to ask? How do its values align with HudsonAlpha’s?

BH: In the 1990s, a Fiji pledge died of alcohol poisoning and the fraternity was evicted from campus. As a result, they had to sell their fraternity house, which allowed them to build up funds. The fraternity’s leadership decided to form a foundation with those funds in order to give back and do good. They turned something tragic into a positive way of enacting change in the world. I felt that their commitment to doing good mirrored HudsonAlpha’s mission. Through research and education, HudsonAlpha is improving our community and our world.

HAF: What are you most excited for the gift to impact at HudsonAlpha?

BH: Peg and I are always interested in promoting research. The Innovation Fund helps bring talented new faculty members to HudsonAlpha, and bringing new talent into Huntsville and seeing HudsonAlpha grow is a tremendous asset to our city. HudsonAlpha improves Huntsville’s reputation, but its influence goes well beyond our community because of the scientific advancements its researchers are making.

HAF: For donors who may also be considering making a gift of their own, or who belong to an organization that may support HudsonAlpha, what would you say to them?

BH: I believe people should get involved with HudsonAlpha and learn about what’s going on at the Institute. Hudsonalpha’s work is vital. If you belong to an organization that is able to fund non-profits, there’s a lot of opportunities to support HudsonAlpha in interesting ways. Organizations like that want to disburse their funds to do good. Don’t be afraid to submit the application!

As a nonprofit organization, HudsonAlpha relies on philanthropic support to fuel genomic research and STEM education.

If you’re interested in learning how an organization you belong to can support HudsonAlpha, or need help submitting an application, please contact Jeff Moore, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, at jemoore@hudsonalpha.org.