Individual Donor Clubs

Since its establishment in 1991, the SME Foundation has substantially benefited from the support of generous donors. This distinction was created to recognize lifetime donors who have contributed to the Foundation.

Each year new contributors are recognized in Mining Engineering and honored during the SME Foundation Annual Gala Dinner at the SME Annual Conference & Expo. We sincerely thank them for selecting the SME Foundation as their cause to champion.
2025 $25K Club recipient, Marc Herpfer with SMEF President, Andy Cole

25K Club

Donors who reach $25,000 of lifetime giving

2025
Thomas L. Drielick
Dr. Marc A. Herpfer
Steve and Cindy Holmes
George A. Mealey

2024
Dennis Bryan
Frank and Barbara Filas
Mary B. Korpi

2023
Harry M. Conger

2022
Rich Hodgson

2021
Steve and Peggy Richards
Bo Yu

2019
C. Dale and Kathy Elifrits

2018
Drew and Dixie Meyer

2017
Ryan T. Bennett
Ross and Candy Bhappu

2016
Sukumar Bandopadhyay
James W. Boyd
R. Gene Dewey
David and Patrice Kanagy
Raja and Geetha Ramani

2015
Bart Hyita
Stanley Dempsey

2014
Thomas V. Falkie
Nikhil Trivedi

2013
Bill and Lucy Hancock
William Reid
Bob and Patti Schafer
Richard M. Whiting

2012
Tom and Peggy O’Neil
Kenneth Russell

Ruby Club

Donors who reach $50,000 of lifetime giving

2025
James W. Boyd

2024 
Nishita and Nikhil Trivedi

2023 
Dale and Kathy Elifrits
Bill and Lucy Hancock
Ronald and Connie Parratt

2022 
Tom and Peggy O’Neil

2018   
Patti and Bob Schafer

2017 
Keith G. Wallace, Jr.

2016  
Sukumar Bandopadhyay
R. Gene Dewey
Raja and Geetha Ramani
William W. Reid

2014  
Jack E. Thompson
Richard M. Whiting

2012  
Arthur and Denise Schweizer
William and Pamela Wilkinson

Emerald Club

Donors who reach $100,000 of lifetime giving

2023   
The Ernest and Sally Lehmann Family Fund

2019
Raja and Geetha Ramani

2017
R. Gene Dewey
William and Pamela Wilkinson

2016
Richard M. Whiting

2013
Arthur and Denise Schweizer

2012
Syd and Felicia Peng

Sapphire Club

Donors who reach $500,000 of lifetime giving

2013
Syd and Felicia Peng

Diamond Club 

Donors who reach $1M of lifetime giving

2024
R. Gene and Lynne Dewey

2017
Syd and Felicia Peng

2012
Scott McIntosh Family

Pinnacle Club

Donors who reach $2M of lifetime giving

Legacy Club

Donors who included SME Foundation in their estate plans.  
Find out more here

2020
Daniel R. Shawe

2019
Severn P. Brown

2017
Andrew J. Fergus

2014
Robert S. Shoemaker