CBT 2024 Fundraising Breaks Record
Alumni and friends raise $1.68 million to support current and future underrepresented students.
Alumni and friends raise $1.68 million to support current and future underrepresented students.
Thanks to the generous philanthropy of alumni and friends, the Office of Multicultural Advancement surpassed its goal to raise $1.5 million by the end of 2024, hitting a new benchmark of $1.68 million contributed by Black and Latino alumni. Most of these gifts were in support of the Our Time Has Come (OTHC) Scholarship Program.
Fundraising efforts were driven by the Coming Back Together (CBT) reunion in September. “At CBT, we come back to give back, and this year was no exception,” says Rachel Vassel ’91, G’21, associate vice president of multicultural advancement.
“Communities of color have always given as a collective to the things that matter most to them. OTHC scholarship support is critical because it represents community, legacy, inclusion, and generational wealth-building through higher education.”
Continuing their friendly rivalry, Syracuse University’s NPHC and NALFO Greek chapters all launched fundraising efforts to coincide with CBT. Those raising $75,000 or more since September 2023 were recognized at the CBT Gala, including Delta Sigma Theta, which raised $111,193 of its total $1.2 million; Alpha Kappa Alpha, which raised $96,829 of total $281,074; Kappa Alpha Psi, which raised $90,869 of total $348,475; and Alpha Phi Alpha, which raised $75,000 of total $289,004.
The 2024 fundraising record was reached through an increased number of donors giving at all levels as well as an uptick in donors using planned giving methods to increase their giving. “We work individually with alumni to help them meet aspirational philanthropic goals using assets and techniques to leverage tax, legal and financial strategies without using cash or discretionary income,” says Bria Sowell ’14, G’16, director of development in the Office of Multicultural Advancement.
Special recognition was given to individual donors in attendance giving $25,000 or above since the last CBT: Carl Agard ’92; Ada Agrait ’94 and Timothy Rossmeissl; Jessica and S. Tucker Anderson ’97; Sharon Barner ’79 and Haywood McDuffie; Rhonda and Michael Blackshear ’91; Mariama Boney ’96, G’98; Candace Campbell Jackson; Candice Carnage ’90; Lisa and Vincent Cohen ’92, L’95; Michelle and Rob Edwards ’85; Dale and Tara Favors ’95; Oliver Fernandez ’08; Maria Melendez Hinkley ’89; Charles ’90 and Monica Houston ’90; Todd and Venida Jenkins ’94; Jody Levison-Johnson G’98; Melissa Marcelle ’81; Roxi ’98, G’99 and Donovan McNabb ’98; Hope and Chandra Merritt; Fatimah ’90 and Keith Moody ’89; Celeste Murphy ’91; Phaedra Stewart ’91; Rachel ’91, G’21 and Don Vassel ’89; Eric Watson ’91; Gwynne Wilcox ’74; Vanessa Williams ’85 and Antonio and Valerie Workman ’86.
“We thank all of our donors for their generosity, but this work is never done,” says Vassel. “The more we receive in donations, the more we can give to underrepresented students in need.”