Foundation Report 2015

Charitable Giving Report

Why we give.

Robert L. Stamp

David R. McHale

Mary A. Papazian

Robert Parker, ’76

Executive Director SCSU Foundation

Chairman SCSU Foundation

President SCSU

President SCSU Alumni Association Board of Directors

44 | Charitable Giving Report

F

or many the decision to support Southern and its students is motivated by personal experience — a brilliant professor who inspired them to think far beyond the classroom or a Southern coach who stressed the importance of teamwork and

perseverance, skills equally at home in the boardroom as the playing field.

Still others are drawn by the proven importance of higher education — its power to simultaneously enhance a life and

the community. The average college graduate with a bachelor’s degree will earn $1.9 million — twice what a typical high school graduate earns, according to the Brookings Institution-based Hamilton Project. They’re also statistically more likely to vote, volunteer, and live healthier lifestyles — so they can give back to their families, their neighborhoods, and society at large.

That is why your gift — every gift — to Southern is so important. We are part of a powerful partnership — a

Southern community of alumni, faculty and staff, parents, students, business leaders, and friends of the university —

united through our commitment to changing lives through education.

The Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, the Alumni Association, and the university administration under

President Mary A. Papazian’s leadership, are embarking on a joint endeavor to help realize the vision expressed in the university’s new Strategic Plan. In that spirit, Dr. Papazian joined several other members of the university community at Homecoming to thank our donors and to share a bit of their own Southern stories — why Southern holds a special place in their hearts and why they choose to give.

“My wife and I are both the first in our families to attend college and are firm believers in the importance of public higher education. Speaking to alumni at Homecoming and other events, I repeatedly hear the most wonderful stories about how the university changes people’s lives. They firmly believe in the importance of Southern and our vision for its future.

The new science building is a stunning example. We are a university on the move and the best is yet to come.”

Robert L. Stamp Vice President for Institutional Advancement, SCSU, and Executive Director of the SCSU Foundation

“One of my most rewarding opportunities was an internship with Northeast Utilities (NU) — now Eversource Energy — during my senior year, an experience that helped launch my career with the company where I currently serve as executive vice president and chief administrative officer. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I received at Southern. For that reason, my wife, Shannon, and I are committed to helping today’s students who we firmly believe will become tomorrow’s leaders.”

David McHale, ’82 Chairman SCSU Board of Directors

“Education has always been extremely important to my family. I was raised in a home that was filled with books, and from a very young age, my siblings and I understood that we were going to attend college. As a public university, Southern has a mission to connect actively with its community and to create pathways to success for students who might not otherwise have them. I am very much dedicated to the access mission, but I am also devoted to Southern’s commitment to excellence — and financial support is key to achieving both of these vitally important goals.”

President Mary A. Papazian

“New buildings, new academic programs, and new services that ensure students receive a first-rate education — all require external support at a time when public funds are diminishing. I believe our graduates have important stories to tell. If we share — often and proudly — the many ways Southern helped us achieve our career and life goals, we will build support for the university that cannot fail to attract highly motivated students and a wider community that, in turn, will help to support them.”

Robert D. Parker, ’76 President SCSU Alumni Association Board of Directors

With sincere appreciation for your gifts to Southern and its students, we thank you.

Winter 2015 | 45

Year in Review 30 27.3

Total Net Assets

25.7

25 20.1

20 17.4

17.2

1.50

1.52

1.77

1.64

2.3

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

15 10 5 0

Dollars Raised

in millions of dollars • as of fiscal year end June 30

1000 ,

993 816

800

757

754

711 600

600 531 463

466

2012

2013

Donor Support of University Programs Donor Support of Scholarships and Awards

400 200 0

209

2011

2014

2015

IT

HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING

YEAR FOR FUNDRAISING , with Southern’s generous donors contributing $2.3 million, significantly surpassing this year’s goal of $1.87 million. As shown in the accompanying charts, gifts for scholarships and awards reached a record high, and support of university programs remained very strong.

Among the many high points for the 2015 fiscal year was an increase in the number of alumni and students who contributed to Southern — a tangible sign of the great value both groups place on their education and experiences at the university. The number of alumni who contributed to Southern increased 10 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.

Equally telling, more than 320 students supported the university.

Looking forward, a strong partnership unites Southern’s administration, the Alumni Association, and the SCSU Foundation — boding more success for the university as it moves forward with the implementation of its 10year strategic plan for 2015 - 2025.

in thousands of dollars • as of fiscal year end June 30

More Ways Gifts Help Southern’s Students

46 | Charitable Giving Report

I

n addition to providing vital support for scholarships and university programs, donor contributions make it possible for the SCSU Foundation to fund numerous critically important initiatives, including the following:

• The SCSU Foundation Student Support Fund provides assistance outside of the traditional financial aid process — covering anything from prescription eyeglasses to books and supplies for students in need.

• Undergraduate Research Grants of $3,000 each are awarded to students to complete research in any academic discipline represented on campus. Each grant recipient is guided by a faculty mentor.

S

outhern is a public university, leading some to mistakenly assume that most operating costs are covered by the state. In reality, state appropriations have declined steadily throughout the years.

State funding covered about 47.45 percent of the university’s operating budget in 2002, but in March

Why Your Gifts Matter

2015, that figure had fallen to 33 percent.

Compounding the situation, tuition — which is set by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents for Higher Education — will never cover the entire cost of educating a student. As a public university, Southern is fully committed to providing an exceptional education at an affordable price. But like most universities and colleges, Southern’s tuition has increased over the years.

Today, the cost of tuition, room, and board is significantly less at Southern in comparison to the state’s private universities. However, it remains extremely challenging for many Southern students to cover the costs associated with earning a degree. That’s why your gift to the university is so important — and why we are so grateful for your ongoing support. By funding scholarships, research opportunities, academic programming, and more, your gifts keep a Southern degree in reach of talented and deserving students — today and in the future.

State Funding as a Percentage of Southern’s Budget

2002

47.45%

33%

“After returning from duty in Iraq, I narrowed my pursuits to a career in the mental health field, working with veterans and currently serving military personnel.” “ . . . this scholarship is helping me work toward my goal . . . to help empower children with special needs and their families . . .”

“I cannot emphasize enough how much this scholarship is going to assist me in reaching my goal . . . one day helping other students reach their full potential through education.”

“Your investment in me will be repaid in full to those who need it most.”

2015

Words of Thanks from Southern Students

Winter 2015 | 47

With Sincere Gratitude

The SCSU Foundation shares words of thanks from some recent scholarship and stipend recipients. They represent the tens of thousands of Southern students whose lives have been changed for the better through the gift of education.

E

CoNomiCS mAjoR ChAmPAGNe

GolDSToN, ’17, is among the first in her family to attend a four-year university — and scholarship support is helping her make the most of her Southern experience. The academically talented student has balanced her studies with numerous activities outside of the classroom, including a mission trip to New Orleans and membership in the SCSU Service Commission, which provides community service both on and off campus.

The university’s annual Alumni Mentoring Day ultimately led to another life-changing experience — an internship with United Technologies Aerospace Systems.

“Scholarship support has made it possible for me to capitalize on all of these opportunities,” says Goldston, “and for that I will be forever thankful.”

For more on her story, visit go.SouthernCT.edu/student-stories.

Champagne Goldston, ’17

Earning a college degree is one of life’s greatest milestones . . . the culmination of countless hours spent studying, learning, dreaming, and doing.

48 | Charitable Giving Report

“I

’m sure many of you have faced roadblocks that made completion of your degree seem, at times, difficult to imagine,” said President Mary A. Papazian, speaking at commencement last May. “But here you are on graduation day. You have succeeded, and the obstacles you have overcome and the academic life and education you have received along the way, make your success all the more rewarding.”

President Papazian’s words certainly rang true for ThomAS “Tommy” hUBeR,’15 , who earned a B.S. in business administration. As a Southern senior, he moved home to help care for his father, who had been diagnosed with a serious illness and was no longer able to work. Balancing the responsibilities of driving his father to treatments, attending classes, and working part-time, Huber found it increasingly difficult to meet the financial obligations associated with earning a degree. Fortunately the hard-working student was awarded a stipend from the Student Support Fund that covered some of his expenses, and he was able to continue his studies.

“Even though my story is unique, the need for assistance is not.

Your gift — every gift — impacts the lives of Southern students,” says Huber. “Thank you for making my college degree a reality.”

For more on his story, visit go.SouthernCT.edu/ student-stories.

Room & Board

$14,820

SCSU Remains a Great Value . . .

ToTAl

Tuition & Fees

Room & Board

$11,626

ToTAl

$21,226

Tuition & Fees

$9,600

1935-36 1955-56 1956-57 1964-65 1975-76 1985-86 1995-96 2005-06 2015-16

“I can now focus more on my studies and a little less on picking

$42,270

SCSU

$57,090

“Each year, I am weighed with the decision of running for the

local 4-year Private College

$20*plus $25 activity fee $20*plus $25 activity fee $50*plus $25 activity fee

$100*plus $65 activity fee $575

But Paying for College is Increasingly Challenging

SCSU track team or working to pay for school expenses. This year, I am able to run track with less financial burden.”

Words of Thanks from [I] have been fortunate Southern “. . . enough to support some amazing Students research with my professors. This

scholarship will help me to focus on these wonderful opportunities.”

“The opportunities I was given

$1,068

$3,128

up extra shifts at work in order to afford the semester — and for that I sincerely thank you.”

$5,813

Annual in-State Tuition & Fees

$9,600

at SCSU are remarkable. I will always tell my story, and how this scholarship allowed me to continue my education . . .”

Honor Roll of Donors Thomas “Tommy” huber, ’15

The SCSU Foundation exceeded its fundraising goal for the 2015 fiscal year, raising $2.3 million thanks to the support of our generous donors — alumni and friends, faculty and staff, and corporations and foundations.

In gratitude for their vital contributions to Southern and its students, we are pleased to present the Honor Roll of Donors online at SouthernCT.edu/giving/honor-rolls.html, recognizing those who have made gifts between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included. Please accept our apologies for any errors and omissions that may have occurred. If you find an error, please contact Susan Quagliaroli at (203) 392-7083 or QuagliarolS1@SouthernCT.edu.

Winter 2015 | 49

An Educator’s Legacy

F

Following a national search, Ruth Eren became Southern’s first endowed chair.

or some three decades, Dorothy Weisbauer Goodwin, ’39, devoted herself to students — both in the classroom and by helping to prepare future teachers. Today, the late educators’ legacy lives on through a $1.2 million gift she made to Southern through her will — a contribution that funded the creation of the Goodwin Endowed Chair in Special Education, the first endowed professorship in Southern’s 122-year history.

This fall, following a national search, Ruth Eren, director of SCSU’s Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders and a noted expert on program development for children, was named to the position. Eren, along with the late former interim dean of the School of Education James Granfield, co-created the center in 2010 to help improve the experiences of children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). About 1 in 69 children has been identified with an ASD, according to the Center for Disease Control (2015).

50 | Charitable Giving Report

It is highly appropriate that Goodwin’s gift is centered in the School of Education. She graduated from Southern in 1939, when it was the New Haven State Teachers College, and went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern in the 1950s. After launching her career with Fairfield Public Schools, she joined the New Haven School System and also worked as an adjunct professor at Southern. Upon Goodwin’s death in 2009 at the age of 91, $1 million of the $1.2 million gift to the SCSU Foundation was earmarked for the endowed chair. Today, that endowment is worth nearly $1.6 million.

Both Goodwin’s sister, the late Mildred McIntyre, and her niece Gayle Fazzalaro, ’67, also earned Southern degrees and shared her commitment to education. “Education was her life,” said Fazzalaro, when the gift was first announced. “She felt that the younger generation was the hope for the future and that it was an honor to be able to help mold a new generation.”

“ . . . I will be student teaching in Bridgeport and New Haven . . . Since student teaching is both fulltime and unpaid, this scholarship will really help.”

“Our family finances have been severely strained due to my substantial medical expenses. . . . This scholarship will be of great help in lessening this monetary burden . . .”

Words of Thanks from freshman year, I could Southern “Mynot afford most of my Students books and supplies, and classes became extremely difficult. . . . with this scholarship I am able to buy the books that I need . . .”

“I was unsure if I would be able to come back to school in the fall . . . but receiving this scholarship reminds me to fight on . . .

Thank you so very much!”

Support Southern.

Leave a Legacy.

Planned gifts — also called deferred or estate gifts — can help you meet your long-term financial goals, while providing critically needed support for Southern’s talented and deserving students.

The university’s Development office can supply information on a variety of planned gifts that help Southern maintain a climate of excellence — from bequests that extend your generosity beyond your lifetime to charitable gift annuities and trusts, which can provide fixed-income payments and several tax benefits. if you have already included Southern in your will, please let us know so that we can include you in our heritage Society, which honors individuals who are dedicated to educational excellence and the future of Southern Connecticut State University. in addition to allowing us to thank you publically, your generosity can also help inspire others to give.

For more information or to become a member of the Heritage Society, please contact the Development Office.

Office of Development (203) 392-6900 • SouthernCT.edu/giving Southern Connecticut State University 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1355

E

ren echoes her enthusiasm. “I would like to use the endowment to support more SCSU student engagement in the Center and its activities, bring outstanding leaders in the field of education regarding ASD to our campus to share their knowledge with our students and community, and support efforts to increase our visibility and influence at state, national, and international conferences,” says Eren, who currently serves as chairwoman of the SCSU Special Education Department.

“Most important, the endowed chair will allow SCSU and the center to enhance the lives of individuals with ASD by giving their teachers, related service providers, and families the evidenced-based tools that will help those with ASD to achieve the goal of successful participation in society as adults,” she adds.

Dorothy Weisbauer Goodwin, ’39

Winter 2015 | 51

Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors OFFICERS

EMERITI DIRECTORS

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

David R. McHale • Chairman Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Eversource Energy

Lucille W. Alderman Community Activist

Charles E. Baraw, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of English Southern Connecticut State University

Anthony F. Verlezza • Vice Chairman Principal, Integrated Supply Chain Solutions Michael R. Chambrello • Treasurer Chief Executive Officer North American Lottery, GTECH Paula Armbruster • Secretary Associate Clinical Professor (Retired) Yale University Robert L. Stamp • Executive Director Vice President, Institutional Advancement Southern Connecticut State University

Frederick R. Afragola Chairman Frame Advisors Frank D. Antin Senior Vice President (retired) The Bank of New York Mellon Lynn Fusco President Fusco Corporation Robin Sauerteig Higher Education Activist Diane L. Wishnafski Executive Vice President (retired) NewAlliance Bank

Kalie Menders Student Representative Southern Connecticut State University Mary A. Papazian, Ph.D. President Southern Connecticut State University Robert D. Parker Alumni Association Representative Director of Communications (retired) Area Cooperative Educational Services Christopher Borajkiewicz Alumni Association Representative Managing Partner Root, Borajkiewicz, Lucarelli Wealth Advisors

BOARD MEMBERS Dr. Robert S. Frew Professor Emeritus of Computer Science Southern Connecticut State University

Mark Rozewski Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Southern Connecticut State University

Lindy Lee Gold Senior Specialist State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Michael Katz Franchisee, Planet Fitness Thomas J. Madigan Vice President, Investments UBS Financial Services, Inc. John J. Mezzanotte Partner-in-Charge of the Greenwich, Conn., Office Marcum LLP William H. Pratt, Esq. Intellectual Property Licensing Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP John Soto President Space-Craft Manufacturing, Inc. Pieter van Vredenburch Head of Linear USD Rates HSBC Bank USA

52 | Charitable Giving Report

CONTACT US For additional information or to make a gift: Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, Inc. (203) 392-6900 Gifts also may be made online at: SouthernCT.edu/giving