SSP was founded in 1978 to “promote and advance communication among all sectors of the scholarly publication community through networking, information dissemination, and facilitation of new developments in the field.” Forty-one years later, SSP reaffirmed its commitment to this mission by establishing The Generations Fund to support the SSP Fellowship, Mentorship, and DEI programs into the future. The fund was seeded with $100,000, with a goal of reaching $500,000 in order to make the fund self-sustaining.
The fund has been working its way toward this goal through individual and organizational contributions, as well as fundraising events and activities. At the SSP annual meeting in 2024, the first “Originals Auction” was held, raising money through the fund through the sale of original creative works made and donated by SSP members.
The auction featured over 50 hand-made items, including jewelry, knitted and crocheted teddy bears, quilts, paintings, pottery, candles, spices, and so much more. In the end, the auction raised over $4,000.
This May, SSP members will have another chance to support the Generations Fund through participation in the Original Auction at the annual meeting in Baltimore. SSP members have already begun committing items, including hand-knitted socks, stuffed animals, pottery, vintage jewelry, and more – all with the goal of finishing the fund. There is no reason why the 2025 Originals Auction can’t contribute at least $10,000 to finishing the fund, with your help, of course!
It’s not too late to contribute an item! Help support the next generation by contributing an item or come ready to take one home with you from the Annual Meeting (all items need to fit in a suitcase so the bidders can proudly carry home their winnings!)
News contribution by SSP members Stephanie Lovegrove Hansen and Susan Wilner. Stephanie is the Vice President of Marketing at Silverchair. Susan is the Deputy Director of Publications at the American Society of Hematology.
