The students’ 2016 Class Act campaign is on track to have a groundbreaking year. This year, SU undergraduates were joined by third-year College of Law students, and their combined gifts represent a participation rate of nearly 19.8 percent, as of May 11, 2016. Their sentiments for why giving is important are clear.

“SU Abroad changed my life,” says Daquan Thomas ’16. “I want as many students as possible to have that experience, so I give what I can!”

Alexander Stapinski ’16 adds, “My gift is a thank you to Syracuse University, but it’s also another step forward in making this place the best it can be.”

The class encourages alumni and friends of the University to take a moment to think about all the ways their Syracuse University experience shaped their life.

“I’m so proud to be a member of the Class of 2016 and to see my classmates step up in this way,” says Jane Hong ’16, vice president of the Syracuse University Student Association and a member of the Student Philanthropy Council. “Recognizing the importance of philanthropy to Syracuse University is so important. The Make Your Mark challenge will help keep our University at its best, supporting instruction, financial aid and student activities, and maintaining classrooms, libraries, labs and other facilities. We can get to 1,870—I’m sure of it!”

The Make Your Mark challenge runs from May 17–June 30. June 30 marks the close of the University’s 2015-16 fiscal year. The goal of a total of 1,870 donors was created in honor of SU’s founding year. Students remind our community that every gift counts, no matter the size. What’s important is to remember that you can make a difference this year and join our students by giving to the part of SU you love most.

Give online today at and learn how SU students are making their mark by

Share and follow the challenge using #mySUmark.

For every senior who gives $20.11 or more to the campaign before Commencement, Palmer will give SU $100 in unrestricted funds. “Syracuse is a special place for me—today’s graduating seniors are realizing this, too,” says Palmer. “That’s why I’m challenging them to express their gratitude in a very real way by giving back to SU before they graduate.”

The more seniors who give, the more Palmer will contribute—up to a total of $25,000.

“Giving back is a way for me to express my gratitude and to make sure that the SU students of today and tomorrow can have an experience that’s the same as—or better than—what I had,” Palmer says. “It’s important for them to know that tuition is only part of the equation.”

Brian Sischo, SU’s vice president of development, agrees. “Philanthropy is at the core of what makes Syracuse University great. Students’ tuition and room and board cover only about 85 percent of the cost of attending SU. The rest comes from outside sources, including charitable gifts. It is because of donors’ generosity that every student can have a fantastic experience at SU.”

Palmer wants seniors to understand that it’s not the amount that matters, but the thought behind the gift. “To make SU great,” he says, “really takes all of us. Seniors can give any amount they feel comfortable with. It’s their participation that matters.”

The 2011 Senior Class Giving campaign committee, which started raising money in September 2010, hopes the will encourage that participation. “For some, $20 can seem like a lot at this time in their lives,” says committee member Justin Cole, “but it really will make a difference.” Last year, gifts to SU of $100 or less added up to more than $1 million. A donor himself, Cole encourages his fellow seniors to “help out the areas of SU they love most.” Donors may direct their gifts to areas of greatest need, scholarships, schools and colleges, recreation services, the library, or any other part of SU. So far, gifts from the Class of 2011 have been made to a number of schools and colleges, various scholarship funds, the Annual Fund, Hendricks Chapel and the Syracuse University Library.

Students of today may not realize the many things that philanthropy makes possible at SU. If they look around campus, they will see many examples—buildings like Newhouse 3, the latest addition to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; state-of-the-art laboratories like the Druger Teaching Lab in the Life Sciences Complex; and equipment like the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Fidelity MOTUS 622i, one of the world’s most advanced flight simulators. Gifts are also responsible for leading-edge academic programs and endowed chairs that enable SU to attract and retain world-class faculty.

Everyone who contributes to the 2011 Senior Class Giving campaign will be included in the Senior Class Honor Roll on the website. Seniors will also receive an official “I’m a Class Act” pin, a designation in the keepsake “Register of Graduates” publication and other recognition throughout the year.

To make it convenient for seniors to ask questions and give online, representatives of the 2011 Senior Class Giving campaign will be on hand at a number of senior events this semester, including:

• Class Marshal Luncheon, Tuesday, March 29;
• Cap and gown distribution (week of May 9, dates and times TBA);
• Senior Barbecue, Thursday, May 12.

As co-chair of the $1 billion Campaign for Syracuse University, Palmer leads one of the most ambitious fundraising efforts in SU’s history. “Student giving will be counted in The Campaign for Syracuse University’s total. Students can feel good knowing that they have an important role in the future of the SU, and I am hopeful that with my challenge to them, many will answer the call,” says Palmer. More information about the Campaign for Syracuse University is available online at .

Palmer received his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1978 from The College of Arts and Sciences and a juris doctor degree in 1982 from the University of Michigan Law School. As a partner in the law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, he specializes in the representation of debtors and creditors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, and has handled a wide range of workout, corporate restructuring and bankruptcy matters. Palmer has served as a member of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees since 2004.

To make a gift or learn more, visit . The site also includes a current donor list and comments from a number of seniors who support the campaign.

Thanks to the leadership of the Syracuse University Trustee Mike Thonis’ inspirational challenge and the loyalty of Boston-area alumni and friends, closed out 2010 raising in excess of $1 million.

Kicked off on Sept. 1, the effort targeted SU alumni, parents and friends in the Boston region and yielded gifts supporting a multitude of SU programs, scholarships and research initiatives. As of Dec. 31, nearly 1,200 donors had demonstrated the importance of SU in their lives, many crediting both their personal and professional success to their SU experiences. Lawrence Merrill ’87, a donor to the Boston campaign, says, “I am very thankful for the wonderful education I received at SU, and for the common bond I share with others. My time on the Hill shaped who I am today and I am tremendously proud to be an SU alum.”

To encourage participation in the campaign, SU trustee and Boston-area alumnus Thonis ’72 pledged a generous $250,000 challenge gift. For all new cash gifts made by Boston-area alumni, parents and friends between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2010—including initial payments on new pledges—Thonis gave an equal gift to the University’s Boston campaign in support of his passion. The incentive exceeded all expectations, bringing in $400,955 in eligible gifts from 893 donors.

Following are the final Boston Regional Campaign statistics:

Gifts and pledges to The Campaign for Syracuse University

• Total gifts and pledges as of Dec. 31, 2010:  $821,668,105
• Total gifts and pledges from Boston-area alumni, parents and friends as of Dec. 31, 2010:  $17,423,124
• Total gifts and pledges from Boston-area alumni, parents and friends, Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2010:  $1,027,535

Boston-area donors to The Campaign for Syracuse University

• Total number of donors as of Dec. 31, 2010:  3,233
• Total number of donors from Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2010:  1,132

The Thonis Challenge

• Total amount of eligible gifts:  $400,955
• Total number of donors giving eligible gifts:  893

Number of new annual fund donors, Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2010

• Total number of Boston-area annual fund donors who have never made a gift or have not made one in the past six years:  172

Non-alumni-parent gifts, pledges, and donors, Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2010

• Total gifts and pledges from Boston-area non-alumni parents:  $66,607
• Total number of Boston-area non-alumni-parent donors:  349

Young alumni (graduates of the last decade) gifts, pledges and donors, Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2010

• Total gifts and pledges from young alumni donors:  $5,115
• Total number of young alumni donors:  55

The Boston regional campaign will be followed by campaigns in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New York City and two other key cities.

“Boston was a great success for us and demonstrated the loyalty of our alumni and friends. Thanks to all our donors for their commitment to SU and for believing in the power of Scholarship in Action,” says Brian Sischo, SU’s vice president for development.

Echoing Sischo’s words is SU alum and current graduate student Kristen Paglia of Wayland, Mass. “I chose Syracuse University for my undergraduate degree because I felt it had the most school spirit, the best academic and social opportunities and a great alumni base,” Paglia says. “Since graduating, I’ve been able to see the power of the alumni network. Syracuse alums are always willing to lend a hand, whether it’s helping with a job search or welcoming new graduates to the workforce.”

SU’s efforts in Boston to engage alumni, parents and friends will continue. “Through local events, our partnership with the Boston Orange and sustained communications,” says Sischo, “we will ensure that the ties between Syracuse and the Boston area grow ever stronger.”

Gifts to the Boston regional campaign will be counted in The Campaign for Syracuse University’s total and support five key areas of the University:

• Student Access and Support: to increase support for scholarships, assistantships and fellowships.
• Faculty Excellence: to endow deanships, chairs and professorships, and to provide funds for faculty recruitment and retention, start-up costs and professional development.
• Cross-Connections: to advance interdisciplinary teaching, research and community engagement initiatives, particularly in the areas of technology and science, social policy, community and economic development, the humanities, communications and the arts.
• Building Futures: to enhance teaching and research facilities and provide state-of-the-art technology on campus, as well as at SU’s regional centers in New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and study centers abroad.
• Annual Support: to provide flexible, immediately available dollars that enable the chancellor, deans, and other division heads to funnel dollars wherever they are most urgently needed.

To learn more about the Boston effort, visit .

Officially launched in November 2007, the five-year is now at a critical juncture. With a total of $787,777,055 raised as of Sept. 30, and a little over two years left to achieve the $1 billion campaign goal, the University has launched a series of regional campaigns to reach out to geographic areas with large concentrations of SU alumni, parents and friends.

“Focusing our energies on these geographic areas will ensure that everyone is invited to be part of SU’s campaign,” says Karen Spear, executive director for regional advancement. “When we get to the end of the campaign, we want to be able to say we engaged our friends and alumni in an urgent and personal way to help move Syracuse University forward.”

Spear says the primary purpose of these four- to six-month focused initiatives is to motivate alumni to become more actively involved with their alma mater. “Our success will be measured not only by the total dollar amount raised, but by the increase in the number of new donors and young alumni who participate in giving, and by the number of alumni who step forward to volunteer as mentors, campus speakers or alumni representatives for the admissions office,” she says. “By volunteering their time and talents, including the University in their philanthropic priorities, and providing opportunities for internships and immersion programs, our alumni and friends can have an immediate impact on students who are just getting their start in life.”

The first of the six regional campaigns is under way in Boston, to be followed in succession by campaigns in Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; New York City; and two other key cities. “Boston is a logical place to start because SU already has a core group of alumni volunteers ready to help strengthen the region’s Orange presence,” says Brian Sischo, SU’s vice president for development. “This group has evolved into the 21-member Boston Regional Council, whose members volunteer their time hosting alumni gatherings, school and college lectures and events, and, in general, help spread the word in the Boston community about Syracuse University’s strengths, values and vision of Scholarship in Action.”

SU alumni, parents and friends can support their passions by directing their gifts to whatever part of the University is meaningful to them, from individual schools and colleges to academic programs, the general scholarship fund, athletics and student services like the Syracuse University Library and Hendricks Chapel. Undesignated gifts are used to support the University’s highest priorities.

To encourage participation in the campaign, SU trustee and Boston-area alumnus Michael Thonis ′72 has pledged a $250,000 challenge gift. For all new cash gifts made before Dec. 31 by Boston-area alumni, parents and friends—including initial payments on new pledges—the Thonis Challenge will give an equal gift to the University’s Boston campaign in support of his passion, up to a total of $250,000. That means that the amount—and the overall impact—of each gift is doubled. 

Thonis earned a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from The College of Arts and Sciences and a master’s degree in geology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and then became a geotechnical consultant for the engineering firm Stone & Webster. After earning an M.B.A. at Harvard, he worked as a strategy consultant at Bain & Co., before joining Harvard Management Co. in 1979, where, as director of research, he helped guide Harvard’s endowment-investment program. In 1998, he co-founded Charlesbank Capital Partners, where he currently serves as managing director and chief operating officer.

While his work prevents him from more fully pursuing his passion for geology, Thonis serves on the board of overseers at the Boston Museum of Science and pursues a range of outdoor interests, including hiking and kayaking. He also is a trustee of the New England Conservatory.

Thonis remains very involved with SU as well. He is an SU trustee and sits on the board of visitors for The College of Arts and Sciences. He has been particularly generous to the Department of Earth Sciences, and was honored with the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008. “Syracuse University may be 300 miles away, but it is a big part of my life and my genome. I know other Boston alumni feel this way, too. I hope they will step up and demonstrate our common roots and show their loyalty to SU in a lasting way,” he says.

Gifts to the Boston regional campaign will be counted in The Campaign for Syracuse University’s total and support five key areas of the University:

• Student Access and Support, to increase support for scholarships, assistantships and fellowships;
• Faculty Excellence, to endow deanships, chairs and professorships, and to provide funds for faculty recruitment and retention, start-up costs and professional development;
• Cross-Connections, to advance interdisciplinary teaching, research and community engagement initiatives, particularly in the areas of technology and science, social policy, community and economic development, the humanities, communications and the arts;
• Building Futures, to enhance teaching and research facilities and provide state-of-the-art technology on campus, as well as at the University’s regional centers in New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and in its study centers abroad;
• Annual Support, to provide flexible, immediately available dollars that enable the chancellor, deans and other division heads to funnel dollars wherever they are most urgently needed.

A website to support the Boston effort is available at and features many alums who got their start at SU and have gone on to achieve both personal and professional success in Boston, including Roger Berkowitz ’74, owner of Legal Sea Foods, and Sean McDonough ’84 of ESPN broadcasting fame.

Among the initiatives featured are the Martin J. Whitman School of Management’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, which has proven so successful that it is being offered at a number of other colleges and universities across the nation; Say Yes to Education, SU’s precedent-setting partnership with the Syracuse City School District that serves as a national model for urban education reform; and the University’s Green Data Center, SU’s collaboration with IBM and the State of New York, which has been hailed as one of the world’s most energy-efficient computer centers.

The report also offers:

• significant campaign progress statistics, including campaign totals, donor groups and gift designation categories;
• lists of new funds that have been created or significantly increased during the time period covered in the report (funds established since the inception of the campaign in 2007 are listed online at );
• and updates on new endowed chairs and professorships created through the gift challenge program.

Searchable listings of donors who made annual gifts to The Campaign for Syracuse University from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, are available online at . Lists can be viewed by donor type (parents, current students, corporations, foundations and organizations); by donor recognition levels (Benefactors, Pathfinders, Visionaries); by class decade; and by first letter of the last name. The list can also be searched for specific names and class years.

A limited quantity of “The Syracuse Impact” print edition is available. Call (315) 443-2865 or 877-GROWSU (877-247-6878), or e-mail campaign@syr.edu to request a copy.

Hot on the heels of the $20 million gift from Louise and Howard Phanstiel ’70, G’71, one of the largest gifts in Syracuse University’s history, the senior class of 2011 looks to make its own impact on SU students of the future with the launch of the 2011 Senior Class Giving campaign at Orange Central 2010. 

Building on the momentum of the Class of 2010—and hoping to surpass its efforts—the Class of 2011 is encouraging students to give in support of whatever part of SU has meaning for them. 

“Orange Central is a great way for us to come together as a class and celebrate all the wonderful things about our University. Now we can also show our support in other, more meaningful ways,” says Beth Anne Kieft ’11, one of the 2011 Senior Class Giving campaign’s co-chairs and president of SU’s Traditions Commission. 

The 2011 Senior Class Giving launch will be held Saturday, Oct. 16, on the Quad under the Alumni Relations tent (in front of Hinds Hall, next to the game-day concessions stand) starting at 10 a.m., two hours prior to the kickoff of the Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh football game. A gift in any amount is encouraged, but the first 250 seniors who stop by the tent to make their gift of $20.11 —an amount meant to commemorate their class year—or more will receive an “I’m a Class Act” rally towel to cheer on the football team. 

“There are as many reasons for getting involved in this fundraising effort as there are seniors,” says public relations major, campaign co-chair, and student manager at The Fund for Syracuse Marc Heintzman ’11, “For me, Newhouse has opened a lot of doors already, and I want to make sure those opportunities remain there for future Newhouse students.” Gifts to the campaign can go toward any number of opportunities, from research initiatives spearheaded by a special faculty member to scholarships, student life, an individual school or college, the Syracuse University Library, SU Abroad, or facility and technology upgrades. Whatever it is that has helped students get where they are today, it can be supported to ensure that future SU students have the same experience. Gifts from friends and family can also be given in honor of a senior class member, or a student can give in honor of a particular faculty member. 

Student Association President and Senior Class Giving Co-Chair Jon Barnhart ’11 says, “It’s not always easy to understand the role of philanthropy at a university such as ours. We hope that we can continue to reinforce with students the importance of giving at Syracuse University. Ultimately, our goal is not the most dollars raised, but rather to increase participation steadily from year to year. We feel that 100 percent participation is not out of reach.” Last year, the Class of 2010 raised $11,845 from a total of 150 gifts—120 gifts from seniors and 30 from parents and friends. “We know we can build off the momentum of the Class of 2010 and do better this year,” Barnhart says. 

“Leaders of the senior class giving campaign show deepening enthusiasm every year. We are pleased to see the commitment and drive they have,” says Tammy Schlafer, SU executive director of annual giving programs. “They really do want to make a difference.”

A web site, , has been created to allow class members, friends and family to give online. Students can also call (315) 443-3926 to give via credit card or submit gifts in person to Syracuse University Advancement Services, Suite 214, Women’s Building, 820 Comstock Ave., weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Seniors who would like to get involved in the Senior Class Giving campaign committee should contact Kristen Duggleby at klduggle@syr.edu, or by phone at (315) 443-1561. 

Everyone who contributes to the 2011 Senior Class Giving campaign will be recognized in the Senior Class Honor Roll on the classact.syr.edu web site. Seniors will also receive an official “I’m a Class Act” pin, a designation in the keepsake “Register of Graduates” publication and other recognition throughout the year. 

Foursquare check-ins at the 2011 Senior Class Giving table under the Alumni Relations tent will count toward unlocking the Orange Central Campus Explorer badge for a chance to win a free SU Foursquare T-shirt. For details, visit foursquare.com/SyracuseU.

The Orange Central Bash is a pinnacle event of the University’s celebration, which takes place Oct. 14-17 on the SU campus. Orange Central includes class reunions, special group reunions and Homecoming, all rolled into one exciting weekend.

Beginning at 4 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium at the , the fast-paced, celebratory reception and awards presentation are free and open to the public, with free parking available at the Booth Garage (corner of Waverly and Comstock avenues) and Irving Avenue Garage (entrance on Stadium Place).

“This year’s Orange Circle honorees exemplify the SU tradition of taking on global challenges by finding ways to make an impact on them in a local context,” says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “From coast to coast, at home or abroad, these members of the SU family are demonstrating that each one of us can make a huge difference in the lives and livelihoods of others. We are proud to celebrate them—and in doing so, celebrate SU’s proud history of serving the public good.”

2010 Orange Circle Award recipients:

• Fisher House Foundation. SU Trustee Winston C. Fisher ’96 will be accepting the Orange Circle Award on behalf of the Fisher House Foundation, which has donated “Fisher Houses” to major military medical centers across the country, ensuring that veterans and active personnel have loved ones nearby during their times of greatest need.
• Marshall M. Gelfand ’50. Thanks in large part to Gelfand’s vision and tenacity, SU now has a thriving alumni and student presence on the West Coast. As a tireless leader in the SU Alumni Club of Southern California, an advocate on the SU Board of Trustees and generous donor, Gelfand laid the groundwork for SU in LA, which has grown to a staff of four, offers multiple events and supports students living and studying in Los Angeles.
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV). This successful and now nationwide program helps veterans rebuild their economic potential by giving them the skills needed to launch small businesses. EBV founder Mike Haynie, assistant professor of entrepreneurship in SU’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management, and EBV graduate Brian P. Iglesias, president and CEO of Veterans Inc., will accept the award on behalf of EBV.
• Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). Working with the women weavers of Chumanzana, Guatemala, this Whitman School-based student group created a successful thread supply store. The store helps create sustainable incomes for the women by cutting their time and travel expenses and by empowering them to run the store independently. Accepting the award will be SU senior Sierra Fogal, SIFE president.
• Miriam Loewy Friend Hillel Program (at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life at Syracuse University), Gift of Life Campaign. Through the Gift of Life campaign, Hillel at SU registers potential bone marrow donors and raises awareness for the need to maintain and grow bone marrow donor lists. Since 2004, Hillel at SU’s three bone marrow drives registered more than 1,000 students, faculty and staff. Junior Michael Weiss, president of Hillel at SU, will accept the award.

Orange Circle Award recipients will receive a custom-designed sculpture created by SU alumnus Peter Yenawine ’69. The crystal award symbolizes philanthropy’s ever-widening circle of impact and ripple effect of change.

“Awarding the Orange Circle recipients at the Orange Central Bash is a perfect way for us all to take a moment to say ‘thank you’ to those who put their passions to work for the common good,” says Thomas J. Walsh, executive vice president of advancement and external affairs at SU. “We hope all will join us to celebrate and honor them.”

Recipients of the 2010 Orange Circle Award were selected by a cross-campus group of alumni, students, faculty and staff in consultation with the SU National Alumni Board. Additional information regarding nomination criteria is available at .

For more information on Orange Central and an up-to-the-minute schedule of events and activities, visit . Attendees are asked to R.S.V.P. for the Orange Central Bash and the Orange Circle Awards presentation by Friday, Oct. 8, by e-mailing April Maw at ocbash@syr.edu, or calling (866) 933-3334.

For questions and disability-related accommodations, contact the at 1-800-SUALUMS (782-5867) or e-mail sualumni@syr.edu.

With their gifts, seniors have supported any number of SU programs, but more important than the dollar amount raised is the deep connection to SU these gifts represent. Together, the students are supporting nearly every school, the SU Library, SU Abroad, WAER, Hendricks Chapel and SU Athletics, as well as the University as a whole through The Fund for Syracuse. To see all the ways students have chosen to support SU, view the latest list of donors in the .

Joe Barone ’10 wears his “I’m A Class Act” pin with pride.

Otto hands his gift to campaign co-chair Muss Akram ’10 at the Grad Fair on March 24.

In giving, seniors have shown that they want to provide future students with many of the same experiences they’ve had at SU. “Syracuse University has given me so much over the past four years in academics, friendships and life-learning moments,” says Maegan Welch ’10, commenting on her reasons for giving. “This small gift is the least I can do after all that.” Numerous comments from seniors can be read on the page. Students marked their participation in the fundraising effort by wearing official “I’m a Class Act” pins.

As of May 18, 2010, the campaign statistics report:

• 117 gifts have been from seniors and 27 from parents and friends giving in honor of class members.
• The dollars raised total $11,586.80.
• The most gifts—27—have gone to funds within the College of Human Ecology. Other big recipients are The Fund for Syracuse (annual fund) with 19 gifts, the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science with 13, SU Abroad with 13, the Whitman School with 11, SU Library with eight, and the School of Education with eight.
• Gifts from seniors range in amount from $5 to $500.

“This year’s seniors have a lot to be proud of. Our core student leadership committee, including campaign co-chairs Carlye Eder and Muss Akram, were totally committed to this effort,” says Tammy Schlafer, SU executive director of annual giving. “They demonstrated a sincere passion for making a difference at SU and have set the stage for next year’s class to do the same. We congratulate them all!” 

The 2010 Senior Class Giving campaign officially closes on June 30, 2010. Class members can still give online at . Parents and friends are also encouraged to make a gift online in honor of a special graduate.

“Simply put, I would not be the person I am today if it weren’t for David Smith’s influence,” says Mohamed Jalloh ’01, an attorney, adjunct professor and elected official in Elizabeth, N.J. “He gave me a chance, and I am so thankful to him for pointing me in the right direction and guiding me through major decisions in my life. I know his legacy will continue through me and all those he touched and inspired.”

When the global financial meltdown hit in fall 2008, Smith was at the forefront of the Syracuse Responds Initiative, a one-time, 60-day fundraising campaign to provide additional financial aid to students severely impacted by the economic downturn. By the campaign’s end, SU was able to provide additional assistance for 426 current students, many of whom could not have returned for the spring semester without it.

“When my dad died six years ago, my mom stepped in to run our family’s moving company,” says Matthew Fiore ’11, a Syracuse Responds recipient. “In these hard economic times, our business is struggling, and my mom hasn’t been able to draw much of a salary. Extra assistance from the Syracuse Responds campaign made it possible for me to complete my studies at SU.”

Volatile economic conditions continue to impact SU students in ways they never could have imagined. The David and Debbie Smith Undergraduate Scholarship Endowed Fund—inspired by the Smiths’ enduring commitment to educational access and opportunity—will ensure the University has the consistent and flexible resources needed to come to the aid of students facing unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. “My wife, Debbie, and I think the time is right to strengthen the University’s ability to take action when a student needs extra help to stay in school,” Smith says. “I hope this endowed scholarship fund will help fill the hole of desperation.”

Leadership gifts from David and Debbie Smith; Vice President for Enrollment Management Don Saleh and his wife, Florence; plus a commitment from SU parents Ben and Arlene Morelli, have provided a good foundation for the scholarship fund. In addition, the University has committed to providing immediate matching funds so that the scholarship can have an impact now, while the principal builds.  

Gifts that support endowed scholarships are a top priority of The Campaign for Syracuse University. With a goal of $1 billion, it is the most ambitious fundraising effort in SU’s history. By raising funds for student access and support, the campaign is continuing to drive Scholarship in Action, the University’s mission to provide students, faculty and communities with the insights needed to incite positive and lasting change in the world.

For more information about how to ensure that Syracuse University students have the financial support they need to succeed in times of crisis, call (315) 443.2865 or 877.2GROWSU. To make an online gift, visit and click “give now.”

To read more about Smith, visit .

Class of 2010 students hope to rally their classmates to participate in a fundraising effort that encourages giving in support of whatever part of SU has meaning for them. That includes any number of opportunities, from research initiatives spearheaded by a special faculty member to scholarships, student life, an individual school or college, and facility and technology upgrades. Whatever it is that has helped students get where they are today can be supported to ensure that future SU students have that same experience.

“Every day, we see what a difference giving back can make. If your education is made possible by scholarships and financial aid, or made better by special programming or high-tech equipment, giving by alumni and friends is often behind it,” says senior Muss Akram, campaign co-chair. “Our years at SU are special, and giving back to a place that has such meaning for us gives us a chance to establish a legacy for the Class of 2010.” This year’s theme, “Be a Class Act,” encourages seniors to work together in creating that unified legacy at SU.

Both Akram and his fellow 2010 “Be a Class Act” co-chair, senior Carlye Eder, have fundraising experience already, starting out their freshman year as student callers at The Fund for Syracuse and rising through the ranks to their current positions of student managers. They are joined on the “Be a Class Act” committee by a core group of seniors who are committed to soliciting funds from their classmates, parents and professors, as well as recruiting other seniors to spread the word and join the effort. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to attend this great university. It’s important to know that Syracuse is dependent on philanthropy, but you can’t just wait for others, it has to be up to us,” says senior Sam Clarvit.

Students can give as much or as little as they want, but are encouraged to give $20.10 to commemorate their class year. The amount that’s given is not as important as the giving itself. Ultimately, the campaign’s true measure of success will be to achieve as much participation as possible from the 3,000-plus members of the senior class. Gifts can be given in honor of a senior class member or a student can give in honor of a particular faculty member. Students’ friends and family can also support the effort.

A website, , has been created to allow class members, friends and family to give online. Students can also call (315) 443-3926 to give via credit card or submit gifts in person to Syracuse University Advancement Services, Suite 214, Women’s Building, 820 Comstock Ave., weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Everyone who contributes to the 2010 Senior Class Giving campaign will be recognized in the Senior Class Honor Roll on the Class Act website. Seniors will also receive an official “I’m a Class Act” pin, a designation in the keepsake “Register of Graduates” publication and other recognition throughout the year.

“We’re excited that the Class of 2010 has embraced this initiative. It’s clear that the class understands the impact giving can have on other students,” says Tammy Schlafer, SU executive director of annual giving programs. “They truly are a class act, and they’re setting a great example for next year’s seniors.”

The money raised by the Class of 2010 will also be counted in The Campaign for Syracuse University’s total. “I’m thrilled to see that the students are leading this effort,” says Brian Sischo, SU vice president for development. “They should be proud of their commitment to the University. We certainly are, and our alumni can be proud to welcome them as the newest members of the SU alumni community. We offer our sincerest thanks and wish them all the best.”

The College of Human Ecology is encouraging its seniors to give back at its 100 Days Until Graduation Event on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Inn Complete. For more information, e-mail Amy Rood at aarood@syr.edu. If seniors would like to make their own solicitations, a “Be a Class Act” fundraising kit is available. Students can e-mail Melissa Cassidy at mpcassid@syr.edu to request their kit.

To learn more about The Campaign for Syracuse University, visit .

“The Orange Circle Award recognizes members of the SU family who are making a real impact on their community by pursuing their passion,” says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “In celebrating them, we celebrate SU’s proud history and ongoing commitment to serving the public good.”

Eight awards will be presented at the first annual Orange Circle Award ceremony, hosted by MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer ’96, on Oct. 2 from 4–5 p.m. at the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. The fast-paced, celebratory reception and awards presentation is open to the public. Parking will be available at the Booth Garage, at the corner of Waverly and Comstock avenues.

This year’s recipients have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to create positive and lasting change, both on and off the SU campus. They’ve gone above and beyond, focusing on such efforts as providing an enriched summer experience for underprivileged children, creating community senior centers and mentoring high school students, to name just a few.

“Acts of philanthropy come in many different forms. The Orange Circle Award allows us to reward efforts ranging from the simple to the complex and those involving not just monetary investments, but also investments of time and talent,” says Thomas Walsh, senior vice president of institutional advancement. “But one thing all our recipients have in common is a true desire to think beyond one’s self and make a difference, bettering the lives and well-being of others. And for that, we’re so proud to call them friends of SU.”

The 2009 Orange Circle Award recipients are:

• John A. ’63 and Elaine C. Couri, generous supporters of Syracuse University and, through the Couri Foundation, Inc., a driving force behind many community-based initiatives. Established in 1988, the foundation has been instrumental in the creation of a summer camp for underprivileged children near Moose River, Me., and senior centers in Moose River and Bangor, Me., and Ridgefield, Conn.

• Emma S. Dovi ’09 and Samina S. Noorani ’09, who revived an honored SU tradition by leading the effort to reintroduce senior class giving to the University. Their initiative not only started a movement to support scholarships for future SU students, but instilled in their classmates an appreciation for the power of philanthropy.

• Wesley C. Dias ’74, a mentor for more than 20 years, helping high school students choose, apply to and transition to college. In addition to networking with current students at —SU’s reunion for African American and Latino alumni—he guides them through career choices and landing their first job.

• Jules R. Setnor, M.D. ’32, G’35 and his late wife, Rose ’33, who shared a love of music—demonstrated by their support of Syracuse University’s . They were equally passionate about education and the city where they met. In 2005, they helped to establish the Rose and Jules R. Setnor, M.D., and Stanford S. Setnor, M.D. Academic Building at SUNY Upstate Medical University, which houses the largest clinical skills center of its kind in the United States.

• The Syracuse University Sport Management Club, a student-run organization in the , that has raised more than $75,000 for local charities since its founding in 2005. Beneficiaries of the club’s annual sports memorabilia auction include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse, The American Diabetes Association of Central New York and the Golisano Children’s Hospital at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

• Marilyn Costello Tickner ’03, a committed volunteer consistently contributing to make such student events as Syracuse Welcome, Family Weekend, Homecoming and Senior Celebration a success. She also recently demonstrated her dedication to the University and its students as a volunteer during all four nights of the Syracuse Responds fundraising phonathon.

Orange Circle award recipients will receive a custom-designed award created by SU alumnus Peter Yenawine ’69. The crystal award symbolizes philanthropy’s ever-widening circle of impact and ripple effect of change.

The recipients of the 2009 Orange Circle Award were selected by a cross-campus group of alumni, students, faculty and staff in consultation with the Syracuse University National Alumni Board. Further information regarding nomination criteria and deadlines for next year’s award will be made available on the SU web site.

The Orange Circle Award is one of the highlights of the University’s new celebration that includes traditional Homecoming and Reunion activities as well as once-in-a-lifetime events. For more information on Orange Central and an up-to-the-minute schedule of events and activities, visit . For questions, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 1 (800) SUALUMS (782-5867) or e-mail sualumni@syr.edu.