As graduating seniors approach Commencement, the 2018 Make Your Mark campaign offers alumni and friends a way to celebrate—and pay forward—their own Syracuse years.
Kicking off today, Make Your Mark is a fiscal-year-end fundraising effort that supports the Fund for Syracuse. Its goal for 2018 is ambitious: 3,000 new donors by June 30.
Gifts to the Fund for Syracuse are crucial to the University. Not only do they bridge the gap between tuition revenues and the actual cost of an SU education, but they also provide many of the special opportunities that make the Syracuse experience so valuable—such as immersion experiences in major cities.
Donor support helped Madeleine Buckley ’18 study in the semester-long Newhouse in NYC program. The magazine and policy studies dual major notes, “Syracuse’s amazing opportunities have prepared me for ‘real life.’ I can’t thank donors enough or express the impact their gift has had on my success!”
College of Law student Nick Dellefave ’15, L’18 agrees. “SU Law’s unique programs really attracted me to Syracuse,” he says. “Thanks to donors, I’m getting a top-notch legal education, and have the chance to pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer. Without my scholarship, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
Alumni, parents, and friends—and faculty and staff—are encouraged to make a gift of any size supporting the part of Syracuse University they love most. It could be a school or college, or a unit like Hendricks Chapel or the SU Libraries. These gifts are especially powerful since they can be quickly deployed to support key initiatives or to cover special opportunities that arise. Or, donors can choose to give to the Annual Fund to support the University’s highest priorities.
This is Syracuse’s third year of Make Your Mark. Following last year’s successful campaign, organizers are keeping its real-time, crowdfunding feel. When individuals make their gift online, they’ll see how their gift moves the needle—literally—towards 2018’s fundraising goal.
David Wishart ’07, assistant vice president for philanthropic engagement, encourages the Orange family to give back during Make Your Mark. “Think about how SU shaped your life, or the life of a loved one,” he says. “Maybe it was an internship that opened your eyes to a career, or a class that sparked lifelong connections. Every gift counts, so let’s all join in before June 30. Together, we can help students have a life-changing experience!”
To make your fiscal year-end gift, visit yourmark.syr.edu. Then, spread the word using hashtag #mySUmark.
