IUP Donor Report, 2022-23

2022-23 Report to Donors

Passion and Pride, Passed Along

As we look back on a year of your support,

I am honored to share the impacts of your support through our annual donor report. As we face new and unprecedented challenges, we build on our legacy by blending tradition with a forward-looking perspective, and your generosity is instrumental in all of it.

As we navigated the complexities of the past year, your support helped many IUP students reach their goals. Your belief in our mission unlocks the potential in hard-working, deserving students, and they appreciate your support.

This report is a testament to the impact of your philanthropy across the IUP community. It showcases the stories of resilience, innovation, and success that you have personally experienced, and that have inspired our students. Together, we are shaping the future of IUP, and I am immensely grateful for your partnership in this journey.

Thank you for your continued support, commitment, and belief in the transformative power of an IUP education.

Michael A. Driscoll President

Jane Miller Banks ’56

Jane is an instrument of change. When she taught business education at a community college, she was a visionary at a pivotal point in time—the introduction of the personal computer. She was the first to get a grant to purchase personal computers for students. She knew they would need them to be competitive in the evolving business industry. With only a technical manual in hand, she taught herself first, and then wrote the curriculum to instruct her students. She still has an eye for the future. She recently updated her gift purpose from books to book codes. This will help students purchase the electronic versions of books and other class materials. Jane wants to ensure that students continue to receive the same top-notch business education that she did and continue to gain a competitive advantage in the classroom.

Matthew Levenson

Matthew recognized the opportunity to gain a competitive edge at Eberly College. They had something that other universities do not: the Bloomberg Terminal, a computer system used by investors to access real-time financial data and facilitate financial transactions such as stock trades. Matthew said, “You have to differentiate yourself and I knew gaining Bloomberg Terminal experience would set me apart from other business graduates.” Students do more than just learn how to use the system. They use the system to manage a real portfolio, the Student Managed Investment Portfolio. It directly involves students managing assets provided by the Foundation for IUP upward of $1 million in US equities. Real money, real life, real experience. Matthew serves as the Portfolio Manager and recognizes the outstanding learning opportunity he has been given. Matthew hopes that this competitive edge will help him gain employment upon graduation. He is appreciative of generous donors, like Jane, who have a forwardthinking mindset. He also appreciates the forwardthinking faculty who recognize the tools that ensure students keep pace with market standards.

Focusing on the Future of Students

Matthew Levenson

Compelled to Care

Monica Ramirez Perez

Rose Boroch in Memory of Helene Boroch ’76

Sisterly love. Rose, Mary, and Helene were sisters. Mary Boroch Savoy ’73 influenced her younger sister, Helene, to attend IUP in her footsteps.

Helene fell in love with IUP and graduated in 1976 with a degree in sociology. Though her dream was to become a social worker, she spent her career as a successful computer analyst instead, but her love of people and the greater good continued to thread through her life. She gave back to IUP throughout her life because she had a keen sense of responsibility to participate in the growth of others—especially in the pursuit of education. She wanted the university to be successful because, in turn, students would be successful and become successful contributors to society. That was important to her. Ultimately, her lifelong giving influenced her sister, Rose. When Helene passed away, Rose knew exactly how to honor her sister’s memory by directing Helene’s estate gift to establish the Helene L. Boroch Memorial Scholarship. Rose, a nurse, has ensured that her sister’s legacy of giving continues and will continue to give back for generations by directing the funds to support the nursing program at IUP. She recently directed additional funds to be used for the purchase of an automated medication system used by nursing students in their simulation labs. It is commonly used in hospitals and health care facilities and gives the students first-hand experience with real-world tools. Automated systems like this one eliminate mistakes and help to save lives. We know Helene would be proud.

Monica Ramirez Perez

It is well known that IUP’s nursing program has been ranked as one of the best in the state.* That alone is a reason to choose IUP, but Monica had an even more compelling reason—her beloved grandmother, who she lost to cancer. It is in her memory that Monica aspires to become an oncology nurse, driven to provide compassionate care for other patients facing challenges, medically, emotionally, and mentally. As a first-generation Latina student, Monica relies on scholarship funds to make her dream a reality. “The scholarship monies I have received have made an outstandingly huge impact on my life. They are the reason I am able to attend nursing school.” Having come from a very low-income household with multiple siblings, Monica appreciates the selflessness of others and one day hopes to give back just as selflessly to her patients. She also credits the program for offering simulation labs that ensure she is learning to use equipment that is in use at the top medical facilities. Equipment donation— like the ones made possible by Helene and Rose— ensure students can quickly acclimate from the classroom to the hospital room.

*Nursing Schools Almanac – October 12, 2021

IUP Nursing Program Ranked as Top Program in the Commonwealth – IUP Now - IUP

CJ Spadafora

Family traditions create lasting memories and foster a sense of shared history and a sense of belonging. CJ Spadafora is proud of his heritage and the lasting legacy his family will have on the university and its athletic programs. It began with his grandparents, Ann and Cecil Spadafora, who were among the very first donors to establish a football scholarship, and his parents, who instilled in him the importance of giving back to the community. As a former collegiate athlete, making an impact on the life of a student-athlete is just one of the reasons he enjoys giving to IUP. Honoring the legacy of his grandfather is another. Cecil’s passion was golf and the Spadafora family generously supported the golf program. Helping coaches improve their programs is important to CJ. Former coaches have been like family to the Spadafora family. Shared passions ignite bonds and friendships that last a lifetime and the bond between the Spadafora family and IUP is still going strong. Recently, CJ established the Spadafora IUP Swim Team Enhancement Fund which will ensure the sustained growth and excellence of the swimming and diving program. The greatest lesson CJ learned from his grandfather was the importance of a thriving community and how you do not have to be a graduate of IUP to appreciate the integral role the university has in the community. Strong communities build strong businesses, and strong families build both.

Paige Mikesell ’22

Her parents have always been supportive of her and her siblings—all competitive swimmers. But Paige Mikesell credits her two siblings, Claire, and Luke, for pushing her to be a better competitor. In 2021, she and her siblings—all members of the IUP Swimming and Diving team—achieved All-America status, a feat unprecedented in IUP history. When asked by recruits what makes IUP swimming and diving a great team, Paige immediately gives the top credits to her coaches, Chris Villa and Adam Stoner whom she believes to be two of the best coaches ever. “They know how to push you to success, but also stress the importance of life balance outside of swimming,” she said. Good facilities are also crucial. To compete at the collegiate level demands rigorous training, mental resilience, and passion for pushing physical limits. Having two operating pools on campus ensured that every team member had time in the pool to refine their technique, build endurance, and enhance their overall performance. She is grateful to donors like the Spadafora family who recognize the importance of quality facilities and the direct impact they have on the performance of the athletes. Also, a scholarship recipient, Paige is grateful for the help offered to her as a student. Without it, it would be difficult to be a successful student-athlete. Because of her success in the pool, Paige has reaped the rewards of a successful collegiate career and gives back by giving lessons to the next generation of swimmers.

Generations of Competitors

Paige Mikesell ’22

A Gift of Hospitality

Rebecca Verrastro

Don Green in Memory of Isabella Wilkinson-Green ‘27

Raised in Western Pennsylvania in a hardworking middle-class family, Don embodied his parents’ strong commitment to helping the less fortunate. He carried these same qualities throughout his life. His proudest achievement involved providing a home and lifelong care to a homeless woman, culminating in end-of-life care through the Little Sisters of the Poor. Motivated and inspired by his parents at a young age, Don began his first job as a caddy at the Rolling Rock Country Club at the age of 10. He went on to garner much success in the business world. He credits his ambition to his parents’ aspirations for him and has never forgotten one of their first lessons—a lesson lived and learned—to give back. To honor his mother and one of her lifelong friends, Don created the Isabella Wilkinson-Green/Kathryn Cepull-Woleslagle Scholarship. He also made a transformative gift to the Allenwood. The Allenwood is a simulation restaurant and has been in operation since 1916. Don’s generous gift brought the restaurant into the 21st century with an updated dining area and modern appliances. The dining room is named the Isabella Wilkinson-Green Dining Room in honor and memory of his mother, Isabella WilkinsonGreen, who graduated in 1927 and was one of the first two students to graduate from the State Teacher’s College (IUP) with a four-year home economics degree.

Rebecca Verrastro

While pursuing a dream to become a veterinarian, Rebecca’s true passion revealed itself, quite surprisingly. While volunteering for a student organization, she realized that her true passion was event planning. She remembered a university on her short list from high school which was renowned for its hospitality program—IUP. Upon meeting Stephen Shiring, Professor of Restaurant, Tourism, and Event Management, and his team, she knew she had found the perfect match. Her work in the Allenwood Restaurant with Chef Jeffrey Santicola has been especially rewarding given its reality-based setting with its updated dining space and modern kitchen—all made possible with the generous gift given by Donald Green in memory of his mother. Rebecca loves learning about food presentation, preparation, customer service, bartending, and business management. Working as a student assistant in the Office of Annual Giving to help offset the cost of tuition, she has a unique perspective on individuals who are asked to give to IUP. When asked what she would tell donors, she said, “Thank you profusely, from the bottom of my heart, because this has been one of the best experiences. I did not know if I was going to go back to school, but I’m really grateful to have made the decision to pursue a hospitality degree. And I am really grateful for IUP and everybody who contributes to it to allow students like me to really excel and learn.”

Josh Hillard ’01

It was the familial vibe between faculty and students within the IUP music department that helped create a lifelong impact on this career music educator. Some of his greatest and lifelong friendships were forged inside of Cogswell. Music was always a part of Josh’s family. His grandparents were both musicians and fans of classical and sacred music. They had a ministry mindset and instilled in Josh to “leave it better than you found it.” Josh and his family established the John and Delores Hillard Scholarship for Diversity in Fine Arts to give students a chance to pursue higher education. Being such a young benefactor is unusual, but, the life lessons, learned from his grandparents to be good stewards and to help others, have instilled in Josh something that he and his wife, Jamie (Anna) Hillard ’00, hope to pass down to their children—a sense of responsibility and a deep understanding of the impact of philanthropy— and of course, the lifelong love of music.

Jaelissa Akers

Having parents who are house parents for the Milton Hershey School (MHS) means that Jaelissa is used to sharing. For her entire life, she has lived on the MHS campus sharing her parents with up to eight other girls at a time. Music was a common denominator in their family of diverse backgrounds. She witnessed how music could lift the spirit and was inspired to become a music educator. As a recipient of the John and Delores Hillard Scholarship for Diversity in Fine Arts, she values the assistance it offers. Without scholarship funding, she would not have been able to attend IUP. She credits the scholarship funds that enabled her to stay at IUP. And she can focus on her studies and limit the stress that comes with juggling a job and school. She was able to intern at the Fund for Advancement of Minorities through Education Academy in Pittsburgh over a summer. IUP had so much to offer and Jaelissa is grateful to the faculty who care about and create a close-knit bond with their students. “They want you to succeed, that’s all they want you to do,” she said. “They want to teach you as much knowledge as they can teach you and see the great things that you’re going to do.”

Jaelissa has performed in productions, played the violin in the IUP Symphony Orchestra, and sang with the Crimson Chords, University Chorale, and Chamber Singers. Jaelissa is excited about the future and hopes to one day pursue a master’s degree in music therapy.

A Tune to Treasure

Jaelissa Akers

Putting Safety First

Madison Piatak ’23

New Pig Corporation

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and that’s exactly how New Pig got its start. There was a need for absorbing industrial spills of oil that leaked from machinery. From clay and kitty litter to corn cobs and pantyhose, the co-founders worked until they had the perfect product, and the New Pig Corporation was born. They grew their business from one product with no customers to more than 3,000 products and hundreds of thousands of customers—worldwide. Their relationship with IUP began when their former president was partnering with field individuals in the Marcellus Shale industry who happened to be IUP alumni. New Pig’s former CEO is also an IUP alumnus and several current employees are IUP alumni. Having been in the business for nearly 40 years, New Pig had become a trusted name in the industry and wanted to establish partnerships with universities so that they could begin building relationships with the next generation of field professionals—in the classroom. IUP was a perfect choice. New Pig donates products and curriculum for two reasons. It aims to provide students with direct access to real-world products and applications, fostering a hands-on learning experience. It also wants to start building trust with the future professionals in their industry by demonstrating to students that they will partner with them in the classroom and again in their roles as safety professionals—a trusted partner throughout their careers.

Madison Piatak ’23

The road to safety, health, and environmental applied sciences was personal for Madison. A few of her immediate family members were impacted by workplace hazards that were not recognized and controlled. These avoidable tragedies became the impetus for her becoming an advocate for the safety and well-being of the working class. She chose IUP because of the stellar reputation of the safety sciences program and the strong alumni network. Avoiding student debt that takes years to pay back was a goal for Madison, so she worked hard in high school to earn the grades that would open doors of opportunity in the form of college scholarships.

Her hard work paid off. She received the David L. Johnson Scholarship and the Chevron Scholarship. In the classroom, Madison was introduced to spillcleanup equipment that was generously donated by New Pig. She also completed the spill-prevention, control, and countermeasures training that they provided. It is unique learning opportunities like these that enabled Madison to transition smoothly from an intern role to a full-time role in the oil and gas industry. She moved to southeast Texas for her new job and hopes to complete her master’s at IUP in the future.

Donor Report

Statistics 2022-23

Scholarships

Athletic and Academic Support

Greatest Need

$2,556,779

$2,660,925

$277,165

Total: $5,494,869

Average Gift Amount $470

(those who have given for 5 or more consecutive years) 1,683

Review the Foundation for IUP Annual Report at IUP.edu/foundation

Who gives to IUP?

Total:

*This total reflects cash donations received during the 2022-23 fiscal year. Commitments of planned gifts and pledges that extend beyond the fiscal year are not included in the total.

How Your Gifts Support IUP