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Celebrating the Impact of Regional Councils and Founding Members
One can’t measure the success of the Forever Orange Campaign without reflecting on the work of Syracuse University’s Regional Councils. Established more than a decade ago during the previous capital campaign, these core groups of University ambassadors serve as well-informed advocates for Syracuse in regions with large populations of alumni, parents, and friends.
The more than 100 Regional Council members represent the best of Syracuse University, but three in particular deserve special recognition as the Orange community embarks on a new academic year. Sean Carey ’89, Brian Frons G’78 and Gerri Slater ’78 are all founding members of their Councils. They are all successful Syracuse alumni who became Syracuse parents and have remained dedicated volunteers. Now they’re transitioning out of their roles as Council chairs and co-chairs—opening a new chapter in Council leadership.
Forever Orange Campaign Gift to Support Launch of Libraries’ Orange Innovation Fund
Syracuse University Libraries is launching an Orange Innovation Fund in fall 2023 thanks to a generous Forever Orange Campaign gift from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees and an operating partner of Silicon Valley Quad, an angel investing syndicate.
The Orange Innovation Fund is a concept to commercialization seed fund for student research initiatives emerging from the Blackstone LaunchPad and other campus innovation programs. The fund is designed to help move student research, scholarly or creative projects from ideation to proof of concept and commercialization by helping overcome some financial barriers students face.
$1M Gift for Culinary Hub at John A. Lally Athletics Complex Honors Joseph O. Lampe ’53, L’55, H’04
Joseph O. Lampe ’53, L’55, H’04 was the kind of alumnus that every university wants to have—engaged, fiercely loyal, generous, philanthropic and inspiring. Lampe often credited his alma mater for providing him with opportunities and life lessons that made it possible for him to reach the pinnacle of success in his career. And he never forgot that he started his first year at the University working in the cafeteria. That’s why it’s so meaningful that the new kitchen in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex will be named the Lampe Culinary Hub, thanks to a $1 million gift from his trust, as directed by his trustee and widow, Shawn Lampe.
Mowers Endow Newhouse Professorship of Persuasive Communications
Eric Mower '66, G'68 can still name individual professors he had more than 60 years ago as a student at Syracuse University. "I have indelible memories of professors who thrilled me," says Mower. Interestingly, the most memorable ones for him taught subject areas across disciplines-religion in literature, American political theory in constitutional law, philosophy through European history. "It's not necessarily just what they taught, but also how they taught. I even remember the questions they posed!" Fellow graduate and wife Judith C. "Judy" Mower '66, G'73, G'80, G'84 shares his conviction that a great professor can make a profound difference in a student's approach to learning. That belief drives their latest gift to the University.In support of nurturing and growing faculty excellence, the Mowers have made a gift to establish the Mower Endowed Professorship of Persuasive Communications in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Their $1.3 million gift to create the professorship is enhanced by a $666,000 commitment by the University through the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program.
Donor's 'Belief in Potential' Motivates $1.5M Gift
Like many young women with an interest in science, Laura Feldman '81 thought about a career in medicine when she entered Syracuse University. But she was daunted by the statistics and her future prospects: At the time, women were not well-represented in medical school; in fact, less than a quarter of medical school graduates were female.
In her latest gift to Syracuse University through the Forever Orange Campaign, Feldman has bequeathed $1.5 million to the SUSTAIN program in the College of Arts and Sciences. Launched in 2017 with funding from the National Science Foundation, the Strategic Undergraduate STEM Talent Acceleration Initiative (SUSTAIN), provides scholarships and academic support along with professional and social experiences to attract and retain students from underrepresented groups in science and mathematics.
Cohen Honors Mother’s Memory Through OTHC Scholarship
Syracuse University Trustee Vincent H. Cohen Jr. ’92, L’95 recently made a $100,000 gift to the Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Scholarship Program to create the Diane Hasbrouck Cohen Scholarship, in memory of his mother who passed away in 2018.
“Even though Syracuse University had practically been in my mom’s backyard, there was no possibility for her to go there herself because of her family circumstances,” Cohen says. The Diane Hasbrouck Cohen Scholarship supports underrepresented students with need, with preference to students from the City of Syracuse. The scholarship follows the Vincent H. Cohen Sr. Scholarship, created by the Cohen family in 2018.
Former Football Player David Tate Inspires Fellow Alumni With $1M Gift
David Tate ’76, founder and CEO of Healthgram, has pledged $1 million to the first phase of transforming Manley Field House into the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, a state-of-the-art academic and athletics village that will benefit all student-athletes. In addition to his gift, Tate has spearheaded a challenge that aims to promote the active engagement of Syracuse football alumni in supporting the future of the program. By joining the Alumni Unity Challenge, alumni commit to becoming more involved through the mentorship of current student-athletes, participation at events sponsored by Syracuse Athletics, purchase of tickets and/or private philanthropic support.
An Endowed Gift That Improves Prospects for the ‘Onlys’
Throughout much of her adulthood, Christine (Chris) A. Carona ’85 has either experienced or witnessed the “Onlys”—a term used to describe what it feels like to be the only woman or member of an unrepresented group in the room at the workplace. Her newest gift to Syracuse University is designed to address that issue, creating an endowed faculty fellowship in the sciences to inspire young women and other underrepresented students to pursue careers in the sciences and rise to leadership positions in the workplace.
Ensuring Whitman Students Stand Ready to IMPRESS in the Business World
Kenneth “Kenny” Goodman ’70 knows what it takes to be successful in the business world and he has committed himself to ensuring that Syracuse University graduates are a step ahead and better prepared to compete in a fast-changing world. That’s why the retired director, president and chief operating officer of the international pharmaceutical giant Forest Laboratories has committed an additional $1.25 million to the Forever Orange Campaign and the Whitman School of Management to significantly expand its Goodman IMPRESS program, a professional and personal development program he helped launch in 2014.
Sharing the Importance of Education
Vishal Shukla ’89 had the good fortune of growing up in a family that stressed the value of education. Understanding the importance of learning gave him a solid foundation to build upon and it led him to begin thinking about laying a similar bedrock for future students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Through a gift to the Forever Orange Campaign, Shukla is honoring his parents and their emphasis on education by establishing scholarships in their names to benefit future students.
Inspiring Innovation by Bringing Opportunity to Diverse Talent
It was the mid-1960s and Nicholas “Nick” Donofrio G’71, H’11 described it as a “great time” for electrical engineers. They were in huge demand and the young graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute took a job at IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York. That’s where he was introduced to Syracuse University. The University offered an extension program at IBM, sending professors to the Hudson Valley offices to provide graduate courses on site to full-time employees.
The bond between Donofrio and Syracuse University grew so strong that it inspired his service and philanthropy, as he saw opportunities to help new generations of students with generous gifts that went beyond dollars.
The Class of 2021 Makes Their Mark
Class Act is the Class of 2021 Giving campaign and is led by student ambassadors who encourage their peers to make a gift in honor of their graduation. As a thank you and as recognition of their generosity, donors are given special Orange, white, and silver Class Act cords to wear at Commencement.
Orange Team Challenge. Calling All Former Student-Athletes!
Our goal is to create a level playing field where every former student-athlete can make an impact on their sport and show their Orange pride while supporting current student-athletes. Your contributions will help us to recruit, retain, and develop student-athletes and coaches to build and sustain championship programs in every sport.
Virtual Whitman Day is April 29!
The Whitman School of Management aims to inspire and prepare students for a world of accelerating change. Every day, we strive to be an exemplary business school by providing highly relevant experiential, interdisciplinary and international initiatives. We hope you can join us on 4/29 for a virtual Whitman Day 2021 address by Dean Anderson and consider supporting the Whitman Day CuseFunder!
Class of 2021 Provides 235 Meals to Hendricks Food Pantry
This year, the Class of 2021 has given more than $1,175 to ensure all Syracuse University students have consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy lifestyle. By providing more than 235 meals, they helped students worry less about what they need to survive and focus more on what they need to thrive. A total of $7,721 has been raised collectively and there is still time to make a gift and see how other class years are stacking up!