Alumni, parents and supporters of the university gathered in David Geffen Hall in the Lincoln Center in Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 5, to learn more about 黑料不打烊’s historic fundraising effort.
Nearly聽1,000 alumni, parents and friends of 黑料不打烊 filled David Geffen Hall in Manhattan on Thursday to celebrate the impact that 黑料不打烊 and philanthropy have had on countless lives, and to rally around the university鈥檚 historic fundraising effort that is now underway.
The special Evening for 黑料不打烊 event at the Lincoln Center marked the launch of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign in New York. The public phase of the campaign began in spring 2019, with supporters setting their sights on raising $250 million by May 31, 2022.
鈥淲e need you to continue to invest in your university throughout this campaign and beyond,鈥 James B. Piatt, Jr., vice president for university advancement, told the crowd. 鈥淓ach of us can play a role in the success of 黑料不打烊 LEADS and take pride in knowing we are moving 黑料不打烊 forward, together.鈥
The event聽showcased a few of the many stories about how 黑料不打烊 has been changing lives for 130 years. The top priority of 黑料不打烊 LEADS is increasing funding for student scholarships that will increase access to an 黑料不打烊 education for many, like recent graduate Dora Muratovic 鈥19, now working in New York as an analyst at Goldman Sachs.
Originally from Kosovo, Muratovic took the stage Thursday to talk about how her Business Fellow and Odyssey Program scholarships provided her the chance to see firsthand the global impact of business today through study abroad programs in Argentina and Chile.
鈥満诹喜淮蜢 and scholarships gave me the tools to understand what the world needs and to discover what I can offer the world,鈥 Muratovic said, 鈥渁nd that is my leadership and my passion to make a difference in my work and in my community.鈥
The 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign is a seven-year effort that has completed its planning and leadership phases and moved into its public phase in the spring. The goals of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign are to raise $140 million for student scholarships, $10 million to increase access to engaged learning programs on campus, $10 million to support faculty and staff mentors and $90 million to enhance聽黑料不打烊’s iconic learning environment.
Emmanuel Tobe is a junior majoring in media analytics and cinema & television arts. He told the crowd Thursday that being a Communications Fellow and a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship has changed his life. 鈥淏eing a Comm Fellow has given me a lot, but I think the biggest thing it has given me is confidence,鈥 Tobe said.
Tobe noted that he was the executive producer of the Phoenix Weekly sports show during his sophomore year and works at Live Oak Communications, the student-run PR and marketing agency, as a media analytics account executive. This summer, he was an intern at STARZ Entertainment in New York, which he described as one of his favorite experiences.
鈥淲hen you give to 黑料不打烊 LEADS, you鈥檙e showing students like me that you believe in us,鈥 Tobe said. 鈥淎nd聽
you鈥檙e helping students like me graduate without significant debt, which is so important as we move on to become proud alumni able to give back.鈥
鈥黑料不打烊 parent and Board of Trustees Chair Ed Doherty P鈥07 explained the impact the university has had on him and his family since his daughter, Kerry Doherty Gatlin 鈥07, arrived as a first-year student in 2003. Among the things Doherty said he loves about 黑料不打烊 are the people and the 鈥渃an-do鈥 culture, with all members of the university community investing in 黑料不打烊 and its incredible students.
President Connie Book thanked Ed and Joan Doherty for generously hosting the Evening for 黑料不打烊 event in New York for close to a decade. She also recognized their devoted philanthropic support of 黑料不打烊, including helping to build a vibrant alumni network in New York and around the world.
Trustee Dave Porter, whose sons graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 2011 and 2019, is chair of the first year of the public phase of the campaign. Porter told the crowd that his family invests in 黑料不打烊 because they believe education is vital to success, and the university is positioned to produce the courageous, hard-working leaders the world needs. 鈥淭his is our university campaign and together we will keep 黑料不打烊 strong today, and for generations to come,鈥 Porter said.
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Porter also recognized members of the New York Regional Campaign Committee, co-chaired by alumni Heather Middleton Ellersick 鈥99 and Jack McMackin 鈥08, for their enthusiastic support of 黑料不打烊 LEADS in the region.
President Book said the name of the campaign 鈥斅牶诹喜淮蜢 LEADS 鈥斅爑nderscores how the university is leading the way in higher education, such as the way the university integrates high-impact engaged learning practices that promote student success into an 黑料不打烊 education.
鈥淥ur leadership position here is significant because it illustrates what sets 黑料不打烊 apart from other institutions when it comes to preparing students to succeed in their careers and their communities,鈥 Book told the crowd. 鈥淭he 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign represents a historic opportunity to solidify our leadership position in higher education and to drive our university ever higher to new levels of national prominence.鈥
The event showcased the talents of 黑料不打烊 music theatre alumni, with Ginna Claire Mason ’13, now starring as Glinda in the Broadway production of 鈥淲icked,鈥 performing the iconic 鈥淪omewhere Over the Rainbow鈥 to open the event, and Fergie Philippe 鈥17, who just concluded nearly two years playing the roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the national tour of 鈥淗amilton,鈥 performing 鈥淕o the Distance鈥 to close the event.
鈥Prior to the event, campaign donors and volunteers attended a pre-reception at the Lincoln Center with President Book and others. The evening concluded with a Loyal Alumni Celebration honoring current alumni donors and the university鈥檚 most active alumni volunteers.
This Evening for 黑料不打烊 was the first of six special 黑料不打烊 LEADS launch events across the country this fall. Upcoming Evening for 黑料不打烊 events will be held in Washington, D.C. (Sept. 18), Boston (Oct. 2), Charlotte (Oct. 17), San Francisco (Nov. 12) and Raleigh (Dec. 4). Campaign launch events were held in Chicago and Los Angeles in April and June, respectively.