Asc smashes $8m goal

“Be A Life Changer” Major Gifts Campaign Gains $9.2+ Million for ASC

Alfred State College successfully completed its first Major Gifts Campaign with pledges totaling $9,242,200, smashing its $8,000,000 goal!

President Irby “Skip” Sullivan (2014-2021) had the vision for ASC to have its first Major Gifts Campaign and re-defined a Major Gift as >$50,000 (which could be paid over a five-year period). The Development Fund Board, the Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc., the College Council, faculty, and staff supported Dr. Sullivan’s vision.

In early 2018, President Sullivan hired ASC’s first Major Gift Officer (J. Joseph Wilder, Esq., ’77), to focus on the campaign and major gifts. Working with Danielle White, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, the three developed the “Be a Life Changer” theme. Dr. Sullivan said in a later brochure, “In essence, our goal is to be a life changer. We want to change the lives of our students, our campus, and our donors.”

The President’s Office introduced the “silent phase” of the campaign to all the Vice President’s and Directors in July. The campaign was a vital presidential initiative for strengthening our future. College leaders, faculty and staff supported the campaign.

A steering committee was formed in August with successful graduates, former faculty and friends from across the United States:

• Robert A. Healy - Chair, '78 (LaBella Associates)
• Douglas J. Barber, '66 (ASC retired)
• Lee K. Brasted, '62 (Shell Oil Company)
• William H. Goodrich, '84 (LeChase Construction Services)
• James J. Grillo (ASC Retired)
• Erkie E. Kailbourne, '61 (Albany International, Inc.)
• Thomas W. Parry, '91 (Koneksa Health)
• Jimmy Smith, Jr., '77 (Advance Testing Company)
• Kenneth Stewart, '88 (CP Ward)

Showing significant leadership, each steering committee member pledged a major gift and helped guide our efforts throughout the campaign. Their leadership by example gave a great start towards our $8 million goal covering five key areas; scholarships, programs, technology, athletics, and unrestricted needs.

Over the next several months, the campaign took shape. Brochures were designed, PowerPoint presentations were given, and support was garnered from alumni, faculty and staff. The campaign allowed us to connect with alumni and friends across the state and nation. Along the way, the campaign gained many major gifts, grants, and raised some impactful smaller gifts to close the silent phase with over $2.5 million in pledges.

After a slight delay, forced by the pandemic, the public phase kicked-off with a dinner at a Rochester alumni chapter event in late September (a “mask-arade” of sorts).

The campaign picked up publicity through articles in the Alumni & Friends Magazine and regular email updates. Social media sites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, were used and periodic press releases for local news outlets were sent out. More than 18 video testimonials were created to highlight campaign progress.

At the 27th annual President’s Society Dinner on Oct. 29, hosted by Officer-In-Charge (and former President) Dr. John Anderson, the final figures were announced and celebrated. The amazing generosity of alumni and friends exceeded the Major Gifts Campaign goal by more than $1.2 million.

At the Lake Lodge event, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Danielle White raised a glass and toasted the efforts of the Campaign. “We want to thank and recognize all the donors for helping us to achieve this incredible goal. We are proud and grateful. The impact of these gifts is astounding.”

There were varied and creative ways that donors invested in Alfred State’s unending mission for education. These investments have changed and will continue to change the lives of our students, campus and donors. In many instances, the donors wanted to provide support but initially did not have a specific idea of how they could help. Their concepts for donating grew organically as they spent time on campus (in-person and through “virtual” visits) and spoke with faculty, staff, students and other alumni.

Below are examples of support for the Major Gifts Campaign.

Scholarships & Student Support:

• Joseph S. Laraiso, '67 (M&C Utilities) created The Skip Sullivan Students Special Needs Fund to honor President Sullivan and formalize Skip's longtime support for student emergency needs.
• Alan, '79 & Mary Ellen Hunt, '80 (Armada Hoffler Construction) created an endowed fund to support students in the Wellsville trades.
• Ed and Shirley Hatter, '58 created a charitable gift annuity.
• Paul Guillaro, '77 (Unicorn Contracting) is developing a student scholarship “pipeline” for San Miguel Academy graduates.

Technology Support:

• Operations Technology Corporation (architecture, engineering, digital media programs) gave gift-in-kind software and support.
• J. Joseph Wilder and Laura Linneball created the Wilder & Linneball Hall of Excellence on-line and in the Student Leadership Center to encourage students through recognition of achievements of alumni and friends.

Athletic Support:

• Jon Shay created The Shay Family Athletic Hall of Fame on-line and in the Orvis Activities Center to encourage athletes through recognition of past achievements.
• Thomas W. Parry, '91 pledged appreciated stock to support softball and baseball.

Program Support has been provided through Major Gifts from foundations and corporations, what are sometimes call “Professional Philanthropists,” who see significant return on investment and social impact via Alfred State College. These donors include:

• The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation (Mechatronics and Ag Automation)
• The Oshei Foundation (HVAC program)
• The Garman Family Foundation (Student Emergency Support and HVAC program)
• National Fuel Foundation (Heavy Equipment and Civil Materials Laboratory)
• The Drug Enforcement Agency (Forensics Science Program)
• Delaval Dairy Service (Agriculture Automation and Robotics)
• Peckum Industries (Doc Bruce Construction Materials Laboratory)

Many individuals also provided Program Support:

• John Coughlin, ’78, (Linder Industrial Machinery Company) Heavy Equipment, Truck and Diesel Program.
• Joseph S. Laraiso – Construction Management Program and creation of the Joseph S. Laraiso Construction & Geomatics Laboratory.
• Walter Sass (’78, Weisser Engineering Company) Surveying Programs.
• A particularly innovative and inspiring example of program support is The Doc Bruce Construction Materials Laboratory. This creative example of leadership is headed by Gary Hill (’78, Union Concrete) and Jimmy Smith, Jr. (’78 Advance Testing). They have spearheaded a “mini-campaign” to honor Professor William Bruce. Their efforts to raise funds through construction industry associations and members have already raised almost $400,000 in pledges and will soon surpass the $500,000 goal! For more information, please visit the Doc Bruce Campaign site.

Unrestricted and Other Support:

• Anonymous pledges totaling $1.5 million.
• Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc.
• Reuben Zielinski (’82, Redux)
• Burton I. Zweigenhaft, ’71 (Upstream Partners).
• The campaign also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in smaller unrestricted donations and legacy pledges (wills, trusts, etc.), through Day of Giving and donations throughout the year.

Our Mission to Educate Continues.

Crushing the Major Gifts Campaign goal by over $1.2 million has been a great experience. The $9.2 million raised by the campaign will have a lasting impact and has certainly changed the lives of students, the campus and donors. Some great ways for people to invest have been found, templates for the future have been designed, and the college has just begun to unlock the potential of our alumni and friends!

The mission of education never ends so our tasks are not complete. Alfred State has always been and will remain an institution dedicated to changing the trajectory of student lives and well-being.

Please contact us to explore the impact your “almost painless” donations, big or small, can have to improve programs, facilities and student lives.

• J. Joseph Wilder | Major Gift Officer | wilderjj@alfredstate.edu | 716-998-2768
• Jason Sciotti | Director of Development | sciottjm@alfredstate.edu | 607-587-3936
• Danielle White | Ex. Dir. of Institutional Advancement | whitedm@alfredstate.edu | 607-587-3935

Special thanks to the following Alfred State faculty/staff for their assistance with the Major Gifts Campaign: