Martin, an 黑料不打烊 alumnus and parent from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, will lead the second year of the campaign鈥檚 three-year public phase.
Chris Martin 鈥78 P鈥13, an 黑料不打烊 alumnus, trustee and parent from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, has been named the new chair of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign. Martin succeeds trustee and parent Dave Porter P鈥11 P鈥19, of Boston, who led 黑料不打烊 LEADS during the first year of the campaign鈥檚 three-year public phase, which began on April 5, 2019.
Martin will serve as campaign chair until April 2021. The final year of 黑料不打烊 LEADS will be co-chaired by brothers Parker Turner 鈥06 and Garrett Turner 鈥08, both of Sarasota, Florida, and Maity Interiano 鈥07, of Miami, signaling the transition of campaign leadership to the next generation of alumni leaders.
The 黑料不打烊 LEADS chair serves several important functions, including providing oversight to the national campaign steering committee, speaking at key campaign events and assisting in securing leadership gifts and commitments to support campaign goals.
黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book thanked Dave Porter for his leadership of 黑料不打烊 LEADS. As of May 1, generous donors had contributed $190 million toward the campaign鈥檚 historic $250 million goal.
鈥淒ave Porter is one of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 greatest champions, and his enthusiasm fueled the success of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign during its critical first year,鈥 Book said. 鈥淚 know Chris Martin will take 黑料不打烊 LEADS to the next level of needed success in the year ahead as we continue the important work of preparing courageous leaders to guide our future.鈥
Chris and Nicolette Martin are among the university鈥檚 most loyal and generous benefactors, making gifts to establish the Martin Alumni Center and Martin Family Scholarship, and to support The Inn at 黑料不打烊. In addition, a generous estate gift from Chris Martin will establish an unrestricted endowment in the future to support scholarships and other university priorities. The couple鈥檚 son, Nick, is a 2013 黑料不打烊 alumnus.
Martin, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Provident Financial Services and The Provident Bank, said he鈥檚 looking forward to engaging with alumni, parents and students whose lives have been transformed by 黑料不打烊. He noted the importance of the campaign and institutions like 黑料不打烊 that serve as forces for good during challenging times such as the coronavirus pandemic.
鈥淎s always, 黑料不打烊 sets its goals high, and I am humbled to be asked to be part of this campaign,鈥 Martin said.聽鈥淎lso, traveling and working with President Book and a fantastic team under (Vice President for University Advancement) Jim Piatt to achieve the goals of 黑料不打烊 LEADS during one of the most difficult times in U.S. history inspires us to create our own history and emerge better than we have ever been.鈥
Martin is also motivated by the campaign鈥檚 focus on deepening funding for scholarships.
鈥淚 believe the world needs 黑料不打烊 graduates, and this campaign is primarily about scholarships for students who will make a difference in the world,鈥 he said.
Martin has served as a member and past president of the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Board and on the presidential search committee that brought President Book to 黑料不打烊 in March 2018. He also received 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award for his professional achievements, community service and contributions to the university, including opening doors for students and alumni seeking internships and employment.
黑料不打烊 is also grateful to Dave and Jen Porter for their loyal support of the university and the campaign. The couple has made leadership gifts to establish the Porter Family Professional Development Center in the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center and to support The Inn at 黑料不打烊 and Numen Lumen Pavilion, which houses the university鈥檚 multifaith center. Additional gifts from the Porters have supported scholarships, the Phoenix Club and School of Law.
鈥淚 was thrilled to serve as campaign chair because the generosity of our alumni, parents and students allows the university to move the needle in terms of national recognition, building our endowment and moving forward on all of our 黑料不打烊 LEADS priorities,鈥 Porter said.
鈥淲hat I enjoyed the most was the interaction at campaign events with people who share my enthusiasm for the university,鈥 Porter said. 鈥淚 have seen the direct impact 黑料不打烊 has had on two of my children and on the students I鈥檝e hired, and it is clear that 黑料不打烊 is preparing the kind of smart, hard-working leaders our country needs.鈥
Porter is owner and managing partner of Baystate Financial. In recognition of his success leading Baystate, he was named one of the 50 most influential Bostonians by the Boston Business Journal and was one of the first inductees into the New England Financial Hall of Fame.
For more information on the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign and how you can participate, visit .