As another year of Fordham’s Excelsior fundraising campaign comes to a close, the Fordham University development team has a message to parents who have given to the campaign—thank you.
Excelsior | Ever Upward | The Campaign for Fordham seeks to raise $500 million to bring Fordham into a new era of preeminence by 2016, its 175th anniversary. Over the last year, Fordham parents gave $7.2 million toward that goal.
While parents are already making a significant financial commitment by paying their children’s tuition, Sydney Plant, assistant vice president for annual giving, said that many parents see giving as one more way to support their children.
“Giving is another way for parents to be involved in their children’s lives,” Plant said. “Many of the parents feel good knowing that they’re adding value to their child’s community.”
Plant said that the financial support of families who are able to give helps Fordham advance its ongoing mission of providing access to higher education for those who are less able to afford it.
“Those who can give create opportunities and scholarships to help support other families who are of greater need,” she said.
Annual giving dollars are used to increase opportunities for programs like study abroad, student research opportunities, and global outreach—all the things that give Fordham students a distinct competitive advantage as they apply for jobs and further education.
As a Fordham alumnus and the new assistant director of the Parents Fund, Alex Morr said he learned the value of the role parents play in the Fordham community from first-hand experience.
“My parents are Fordham parents as well,” he said. “I’m very much looking forward to working with that group and really seeing the impact they’re going to have on campus.”
At the leadership level, members of the Parents’ Leadership Council also receive special opportunities to be involved in their students’ Fordham careers, such as participating in the commencement procession and special receptions.
By Jennifer Spencer
