The Crandall Challenge to WGES Members

The Crandall Challenge Committee is committed to the principle of active involvement by WGES members in business and community affairs. We celebrate the many WGES members who work to effect change where change is needed and support the next generation of leaders. Their commitment helps to keep our institutions strong and viable.

Chair:
Rick Perkins, WG’70

The Wharton Graduate Emeritus Society

Invites You to Join

The 2026 Crandall Challenge

Fellow members of the Wharton Graduate Emeritus Society (WGES),

Named in honor of Bob Crandall, WG’60, former president and chairman of American Airlines, the Crandall Challenge is an annual celebration of our members’ good works. If you, like us, are among the many alumni who believe it’s our duty to do good, we invite you to submit your story to the 2026 Crandall Challenge.

To make it easier for you to tell your story, our user-friendly submission form supplies all the necessary instructions. Submissions will be put into two citation categories: “community-regional” and “national-international.” Please send your submission to us by March 15, 2026.

Many of your submissions will be recognized on the Crandall Challenge Honor Roll and made available online as a source of inspiration for other Wharton MBAs. Certain Crandall Challenge submissions will also be recognized at MBA Reunion Weekend 2026 in Philadelphia with a Crandall Challenge Citation.

McClain Gordon, WG’73
Chair, Wharton Graduate Emeritus Society

Rick Perkins, WG’70
Chair, Crandall Challenge Committee

How to Get Started Helping Others

Thinking about volunteering but haven’t made up your mind exactly as to what or where? Maybe we can help. Several simple steps can make the path clearer, easier, and more specific to your needs and interests. Here are some of them:

• Narrow the field: What areas of human endeavor interest you most? From aardvarks to zymurgy, many things happening in life need attention, help and betterment. Whether it’s tennis, math, cooking, plant life, poetry – or anything else – volunteer groups most everywhere will welcome your help. Go where your heart and head may lead you.
• Consider time: Estimate the hours you’d be willing to donate to volunteer activity in a month. Even an amount not likely to change your lifestyle still affects your schedule. Whether two or twenty, it should be a committed period you enjoy, so you and your working partners get the greatest benefit. Also include necessary travel time.
• Get help: There are multiple sources ready to supply future direction. If you have a computer, several national websites offer help. Several states also have websites devoted to helping you reach volunteer organizations in your region and city.

Here are three national websites and two state websites devoted to helping citizens find the right place to lend a hand: