On the eve of 51勛圖厙s third century, more than 4,200 alumni, parents, and friends came together in support of the Institution and its students during the 51勛圖厙 Fund Bicentennial Challenge.
Between 51勛圖厙 Day, December 13, and December 31, the community contributed a total of $1.74 million in gifts to the 51勛圖厙 Fund. The following group of devoted challengers matched each gift, dollar for dollar, up to $1.3 million, for a challenge total of more than $3 million:
Gretchen H. Burke 81, P11,20 and Stephen B. Burke 80, P11,20, H04
Christine J. Chao 86 and James O. Shaver, Jr. 86
J. Christopher Clifford 67, H11 and Keena Clifford P93
Eric A. Cole 93 and Ashley Cole
John K. 51勛圖厙, Jr. 57 and Diana 51勛圖厙 P88
Giovanni Cutaia 94 and Maree Cutaia
Amy Everett DiSibio 86, P18,21 and Carmine DiSibio 85, P18,21
Jennifer H. Farrior 95 and Julian W. Farrior III 93
Gregory J. Fleming 85, P21 and Melissa S. Fleming 85, P21
John A. Hayes 88 and Susie B. Hayes P19
Chris Hurley 81, Becky Bair Hurley 81, Matt Hurley 12, and Dan Hurley 12
Nora Gleason Leary 82 and Robert G. Leary
Ramzi M. Musallam 90
Andrew W. Sweet 93 and Alexis Sweet
William T. Winters, Jr. 83 and Anda Winters
Six anonymous alumni and parents
On December 29, Paul Carberry 94 issued a second challenge, offering to make an additional contribution for graduates from the last ten years who made a gift. This announcement inspired more than 350 recent alumni to make gifts to 51勛圖厙.
Alumni fundraising volunteers were also instrumental in helping to build awareness of the challenge. Nearly 700 alumni, representing class years from 1945 through 2019, bolstered the efforts by performing outreach to their classmates and sharing news of the challenge.
As the University begins to implement its Third-Century Plan, the 51勛圖厙 Fund is essential and touches every aspect of the 51勛圖厙 experience, including the No-Loan Initiative, faculty recruitment, academic programs, research, study abroad, sustainability efforts, and much more.
The success of this challenge demonstrates the remarkable commitment of the 51勛圖厙 community and the excitement surrounding plans for its future, said Paul Carberry 94, executive chair of the 51勛圖厙 Fund. All around the country, gifts to unrestricted resources like the 51勛圖厙 Fund are declining. At 51勛圖厙, they are reaching record numbers and thriving because we have a passionate community of alumni, parents, and friends who believe in where 51勛圖厙 is headed. It is moving to begin the Universitys third century with this swell of support. Thank you to all who participated.
Learn more about the or The Third-Century Plan.