The students鈥� 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.

鈥淪U Abroad changed my life,鈥� says Daquan Thomas 鈥�16. 鈥淚 want as many students as possible to have that experience, so I give what I can!鈥�

Alexander Stapinski 鈥�16 adds, 鈥淢y gift is a thank you to 黑料不打烊, but it鈥檚 also another step forward in making this place the best it can be.鈥�

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

鈥淚鈥檓 so proud to be a member of the Class of 2016 and to see my classmates step up in this way,鈥� says Jane Hong 鈥�16, vice president of the 黑料不打烊 Student Association and a member of the Student Philanthropy Council. 鈥淩ecognizing the importance of philanthropy to 黑料不打烊 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鈥擨鈥檓 sure of it!鈥�

The Make Your Mark challenge runs from May 17鈥揓une 30. June 30 marks the close of the University鈥檚 2015-16 fiscal year. The goal of a total of 1,870 donors was created in honor of SU鈥檚 founding year. Students remind our community that every gift counts, no matter the size. What鈥檚 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. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� is a special place for me鈥攖oday鈥檚 graduating seniors are realizing this, too,鈥� says Palmer. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 challenging them to express their gratitude in a very real way by giving back to SU before they graduate.鈥�

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

鈥淕iving 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鈥檚 the same as鈥攐r better than鈥攚hat I had,鈥� Palmer says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for them to know that tuition is only part of the equation.鈥�

Brian Sischo, SU鈥檚 vice president of development, agrees. 鈥淧hilanthropy is at the core of what makes 黑料不打烊 great. Students鈥� 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鈥� generosity that every student can have a fantastic experience at SU.鈥�

Palmer wants seniors to understand that it鈥檚 not the amount that matters, but the thought behind the gift. 鈥淭o make SU great,鈥� he says, 鈥渞eally takes all of us. Seniors can give any amount they feel comfortable with. It鈥檚 their participation that matters.鈥�

The 2011 Senior Class Giving campaign committee, which started raising money in September 2010, hopes the will encourage that participation. 鈥淔or some, $20 can seem like a lot at this time in their lives,鈥� says committee member Justin Cole, 鈥渂ut it really will make a difference.鈥� 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 鈥渉elp out the areas of SU they love most.鈥� 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 黑料不打烊 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鈥攂uildings 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鈥檚 Fidelity MOTUS 622i, one of the world鈥檚 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 鈥淚鈥檓 a Class Act鈥� pin, a designation in the keepsake 鈥淩egister of Graduates鈥� 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 黑料不打烊, Palmer leads one of the most ambitious fundraising efforts in SU鈥檚 history. 鈥淪tudent giving will be counted in The Campaign for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 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,鈥� says Palmer. More information about the Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is available online at .

Palmer received his bachelor鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊 Trustee Mike Thonis鈥� 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 鈥�87, a donor to the Boston campaign, says, 鈥淚 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.鈥�

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鈥攊ncluding initial payments on new pledges鈥擳honis gave an equal gift to the University鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊

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

Boston-area donors to The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

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

The Thonis Challenge

• Total amount of eligible gifts:聽聽$400,955
• Total number of donors giving eligible gifts:聽聽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:聽聽172

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

• Total gifts and pledges from Boston-area non-alumni parents:聽聽$66,607
• Total number of Boston-area non-alumni-parent donors:聽聽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:聽聽$5,115
• Total number of young alumni donors:聽聽55

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

鈥淏oston 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,鈥� says Brian Sischo, SU鈥檚 vice president for development.

Echoing Sischo鈥檚 words is SU alum and current graduate student Kristen Paglia of Wayland, Mass. 鈥淚 chose 黑料不打烊 for my undergraduate degree because I felt it had the most school spirit, the best academic and social opportunities and a great alumni base,鈥� Paglia says. 鈥淪ince graduating, I鈥檝e been able to see the power of the alumni network. 黑料不打烊 alums are always willing to lend a hand, whether it鈥檚 helping with a job search or welcoming new graduates to the workforce.鈥�

SU鈥檚 efforts in Boston to engage alumni, parents and friends will continue. 鈥淭hrough local events, our partnership with the Boston Orange and sustained communications,鈥� says Sischo, 鈥渨e will ensure that the ties between 黑料不打烊 and the Boston area grow ever stronger.鈥�

Gifts to the Boston regional campaign will be counted in The Campaign for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.

鈥淔ocusing our energies on these geographic areas will ensure that everyone is invited to be part of SU鈥檚 campaign,鈥� says Karen Spear, executive director for regional advancement. 鈥淲hen 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 黑料不打烊 forward.鈥�

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. 鈥淥ur 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,鈥� she says. 鈥淏y 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.鈥�

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. 鈥淏oston is a logical place to start because SU already has a core group of alumni volunteers ready to help strengthen the region鈥檚 Orange presence,鈥� says Brian Sischo, SU鈥檚 vice president for development. 鈥淭his 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 strengths, values and vision of Scholarship in Action.鈥�

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 黑料不打烊 Library and Hendricks Chapel. Undesignated gifts are used to support the University鈥檚 highest priorities.

To encourage participation in the campaign, SU trustee and Boston-area alumnus Michael Thonis 鈥�72 has pledged a $250,000 challenge gift. For all new cash gifts made before Dec. 31 by Boston-area alumni, parents and friends鈥攊ncluding initial payments on new pledges鈥攖he Thonis Challenge will give an equal gift to the University鈥檚 Boston campaign in support of his passion, up to a total of $250,000. That means that the amount鈥攁nd the overall impact鈥攐f each gift is doubled.聽

Thonis earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree summa cum laude from The College of Arts and Sciences and a master鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� 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,鈥� he says.

Gifts to the Boston regional campaign will be counted in The Campaign for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 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聽have gone on to achieve both personal and professional success in Boston, including Roger Berkowitz 鈥�74, owner of Legal Sea Foods, and Sean McDonough 鈥�84 of ESPN broadcasting fame.

Among the initiatives featured are the Martin J. Whitman School of Management鈥檚 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鈥檚 precedent-setting partnership with the 黑料不打烊 City School District that serves as a national model for urban education reform; and the University鈥檚 Green Data Center, SU鈥檚 collaboration with IBM and the State of New York, which has been hailed as one of the world鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊 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 鈥淭he 黑料不打烊 Impact鈥� 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 鈥�70, G鈥�71, one of the largest gifts in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 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.聽

Building on the momentum of the Class of 2010鈥攁nd hoping to surpass its efforts鈥攖he Class of 2011 is encouraging students to give in support of whatever part of SU has meaning for them.聽

鈥淥range 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,鈥� says Beth Anne Kieft 鈥�11, one of the 2011 Senior Class Giving campaign鈥檚 co-chairs and president of SU鈥檚 Traditions Commission.聽

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 黑料不打烊 vs. Pittsburgh football game. A gift in any amount is encouraged, but the first 250 seniors who stop by the tent to make their聽gift of聽$20.11 鈥攁n amount meant to commemorate their class year鈥攐r more will receive an 鈥淚鈥檓 a Class Act鈥� rally towel to cheer on the football team.聽

鈥淭here are as many reasons for getting involved in this fundraising effort as there are seniors,鈥� says public relations major, campaign co-chair, and student manager at The Fund for 黑料不打烊 Marc Heintzman 鈥�11, 鈥淔or me, Newhouse has opened a lot of doors already, and I want to make sure those opportunities remain there for future Newhouse students.鈥� 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 黑料不打烊 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.聽

Student Association President and Senior Class Giving Co-Chair Jon Barnhart 鈥�11 says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊. 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.鈥� Last year, the Class of 2010 raised $11,845 from a total of 150 gifts鈥�120 gifts from seniors and 30 from parents and friends. 鈥淲e know we can build off the momentum of the Class of 2010 and do better this year,鈥� Barnhart says.聽

鈥淟eaders of the senior class giving campaign show deepening enthusiasm every year. We are pleased to see the commitment and drive they have,鈥� says Tammy Schlafer, SU executive director of annual giving programs. 鈥淭hey really do want to make a difference.鈥�

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 黑料不打烊 Advancement Services, Suite 214, Women鈥檚 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.聽

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 鈥淚鈥檓 a Class Act鈥� pin, a designation in the keepsake 鈥淩egister of Graduates鈥� publication and other recognition throughout the year.聽

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/黑料不打烊U.

The Orange Central Bash is a pinnacle event of the University鈥檚 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聽are聽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).

鈥淭his year鈥檚 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,鈥� says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. 鈥淔rom 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鈥攁nd in doing so, celebrate SU鈥檚 proud history of serving the public good.鈥�

2010 Orange Circle Award recipients:

• Fisher House Foundation. SU Trustee Winston C. Fisher 鈥�96 will be accepting the Orange Circle Award on behalf of the Fisher House Foundation, which has donated 鈥淔isher Houses鈥� 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 鈥�50. Thanks in large part to Gelfand鈥檚 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,聽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鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊), 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鈥檚 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 鈥�69. The crystal award symbolizes philanthropy鈥檚 ever-widening circle of impact and ripple effect of change.

鈥淎warding 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,鈥� says Thomas J. Walsh, executive vice president of advancement and external affairs at SU. 鈥淲e hope all will join us to celebrate and honor them.鈥�

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 黑料不打烊. To see all the ways students have chosen to support SU, view the latest list of donors in the .

Joe Barone 鈥�10 wears his 鈥淚鈥檓 A Class Act鈥� pin with pride.

Otto hands his gift to campaign co-chair Muss Akram 鈥�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鈥檝e had at SU. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� has given me so much over the past four years in academics, friendships and life-learning moments,鈥� says Maegan Welch 鈥�10, commenting on her reasons for giving. 鈥淭his small gift is the least I can do after all that.鈥� Numerous comments from seniors can be read on the page. Students marked their participation in the fundraising effort by wearing official 鈥淚鈥檓 a Class Act鈥� 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鈥�27鈥攈ave gone to funds within the College of Human Ecology. Other big recipients are The Fund for 黑料不打烊 (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.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 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,鈥� says Tammy Schlafer, SU executive director of annual giving. 鈥淭hey demonstrated a sincere passion for making a difference at SU and have set the stage for next year鈥檚 class to do the same. We congratulate them all!鈥澛�

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.

鈥淪imply put, I would not be the person I am today if it weren鈥檛 for David Smith鈥檚 influence,鈥� says Mohamed Jalloh 鈥�01, an attorney, adjunct professor and elected official in Elizabeth, N.J. 鈥淗e 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.鈥�

When the global financial meltdown hit in fall 2008, Smith was at the forefront of the 黑料不打烊 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鈥檚 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.

鈥淲hen my dad died six years ago, my mom stepped in to run our family鈥檚 moving company,鈥� says Matthew Fiore 鈥�11, a 黑料不打烊 Responds recipient. 鈥淚n these hard economic times, our business is struggling, and my mom hasn鈥檛 been able to draw much of a salary. Extra assistance from the 黑料不打烊 Responds campaign made it possible for me to complete my studies at SU.鈥�

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

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. 聽

Gifts that support endowed scholarships are a top priority of The Campaign for 黑料不打烊. With a goal of $1 billion, it is the most ambitious fundraising effort in SU鈥檚 history. By raising funds for student access and support, the campaign is continuing to drive Scholarship in Action, the University鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊 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 鈥済ive now.鈥�

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.

鈥淓very 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,鈥� says senior Muss Akram, campaign co-chair. 鈥淥ur 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.鈥� This year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淏e a Class Act,鈥� encourages seniors to work together in creating that unified legacy at SU.

Both Akram and his fellow 2010 鈥淏e a Class Act鈥� co-chair, senior Carlye Eder, have fundraising experience already, starting out their freshman year as student callers at The Fund for 黑料不打烊 and rising through the ranks to their current positions of student managers. They are joined on the 鈥淏e a Class Act鈥� 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. 鈥淚鈥檝e been extremely fortunate to attend this great university. It鈥檚 important to know that 黑料不打烊 is dependent on philanthropy, but you can鈥檛 just wait for others, it has to be up to us,鈥� 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鈥檚 given is not as important as the giving itself. Ultimately, the campaign鈥檚 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鈥� 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 黑料不打烊 Advancement Services, Suite 214, Women鈥檚 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 鈥淚鈥檓 a Class Act鈥� pin, a designation in the keepsake 鈥淩egister of Graduates鈥� publication and other recognition throughout the year.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited that the Class of 2010 has embraced this initiative. It鈥檚 clear that the class understands the impact giving can have on other students,鈥� says Tammy Schlafer, SU executive director of annual giving programs. 鈥淭hey truly are a class act, and they鈥檙e setting a great example for next year鈥檚 seniors.鈥�

The money raised by the Class of 2010 will also be counted in The Campaign for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 total. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to see that the students are leading this effort,鈥� says Brian Sischo, SU vice president for development. 鈥淭hey 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.鈥�

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 鈥淏e a Class Act鈥� 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 黑料不打烊, visit .

鈥淭he Orange Circle Award recognizes members of the SU family who are making a real impact on their community by pursuing their passion,鈥� says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. 鈥淚n celebrating them, we celebrate SU鈥檚 proud history and ongoing commitment to serving the public good.鈥�

Eight awards will be presented at the first annual Orange Circle Award ceremony, hosted by MSNBC鈥檚 Contessa Brewer 鈥�96, on Oct. 2 from 4鈥�5 p.m. at the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center鈥檚 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鈥檚 recipients have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to create positive and lasting change, both on and off the SU campus. They鈥檝e 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.

鈥淎cts 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,鈥� says Thomas Walsh, senior vice president of institutional advancement. 鈥淏ut one thing all our recipients have in common is a true desire to think beyond one鈥檚 self and make a difference, bettering the lives and well-being of others. And for that, we鈥檙e so proud to call them friends of SU.鈥�

The 2009 Orange Circle Award recipients are:

鈥� John A. 鈥�63 and Elaine C. Couri, generous supporters of 黑料不打烊 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.

鈥� Emma S. Dovi 鈥�09 and Samina S. Noorani 鈥�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.

鈥� Wesley C. Dias 鈥�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 鈥擲U鈥檚 reunion for African American and Latino alumni鈥攈e guides them through career choices and landing their first job.

鈥� Jules R. Setnor, M.D. 鈥�32, G鈥�35 and his late wife, Rose 鈥�33, who shared a love of music鈥攄emonstrated by their support of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 . 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.

鈥� The 黑料不打烊 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鈥檚 annual sports memorabilia auction include the Boys & Girls Clubs of 黑料不打烊, The American Diabetes Association of Central New York and the Golisano Children鈥檚 Hospital at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

鈥� Marilyn Costello Tickner 鈥�03, a committed volunteer consistently contributing to make such student events as 黑料不打烊 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 黑料不打烊 Responds fundraising phonathon.

Orange Circle award recipients will receive a custom-designed award created by SU alumnus Peter Yenawine 鈥�69. The crystal award symbolizes philanthropy鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊 National Alumni Board. Further information regarding nomination criteria and deadlines for next year鈥檚 award will be made available on the SU web site.

The Orange Circle Award is one of the highlights of the University鈥檚 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.