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Multiple million dollar gifts push capital campaign closer to completion
YSU’s historic We See Tomorrow capital campaign is now more than three-quarters of the way to its $100 million fundraising goal. At more than $80 million raised, the YSU Foundation credits the generosity of YSU alumni and friends for its success thus far. The campaign had raised $51.7 million when the public phase began in October 2017. Several gifts of $1 million or more will fund facilities, scholarships and professorships.
Changing the face of campus
It’s a classic case of a good problem to have—just when the campus map was updated once, it’s time to update it again. Thanks to three recent major gifts, the College of Creative Arts and Communication and the Veterans Resource Center got new names, and construction will begin soon on a new athletic field for all students.
The Veterans Resource Center now bears the name of Carl A. Nunziato, decorated Vietnam veteran, attorney and YSU alumnus. Nunziato served two tours of duty in Vietnam and lost both his legs in combat. He has been actively involved in the community and YSU. Nunziato played an important role in the creation of the Veterans Resource Center, which opened in 2014.
“It is a great honor to be forever associated with two things that are so near and dear to my heart – veterans and YSU,” Nunziato said.
The naming was made possible through a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor.
Described as “debonair” and “the coolest 94-year-old alive,” Earle Wayne Cliffe Jr. left $1.3 million to YSU for the purpose of naming the College of Creative Arts and Communication. Cliffe served in World War II and later settled in California but always remembered his Youngstown roots. Before his passing earlier this year, he planned the donation in honor of his parents, Dr. Earle W. & Ida Cliffe. His father served in the medical corps during World War I and was a prominent Youngstown physician whose legacy was the largest number of home maternity deliveries in the area. His mother also worked in the medical industry as a nurse.
The growing population of students living on campus means an increased need for recreational activities and facilities. The Cafaro Family’s gift of $1.5 million funds the creation of a brand new intramural complex for all students to enjoy. The field, which will be located adjacent to Cafaro House on the north side of campus, will include lighting, restrooms and seating for spectators.
“With so many students on campus, we want to make sure we provide an environment that meets the needs of our students, and that includes recreation,” said Joy Polkabla Byers, director of campus recreation.
Over the past 23 years, the Cafaros have made gifts to YSU totaling more than $5 million. Last year, the Cafaro Family received YSU’s Friend of the University Award, one of the university’s highest honors.
Investing in education
Another major part of the campaign involves investing in YSU students and those who educate them. Donors are helping to fund student scholarships and special professorships designed to recruit and retain top faculty. Majors recent gifts include:
- The daughters of successful late Mahoning Valley businessman Paul J. Thomas have donated $1.5 million to establish a full professor faculty chair position in Economics in honor of their father. The gift, made by Gwen and Janet Thomas, and their spouses, Thomas Watson and Robert Shanklin, remembers Thomas who served in the Navy during World War II before returning to the Mahoning Valley to build a successful career.
In 1981, Thomas and his wife established the Paul J. and Marguerite K. Thomas Colloquium on Free Enterprise at YSU. The Colloquium provides lectures and workshops by recognized leaders in business, economics and finance. Recently featured speakers include Guy Kawasaki, former chief evangelist of Apple; Maxine Clark, the founder of the Build-A-Bear Workshop; and Lori Greiner, star of Shark Tank. - Robert W. Reeder III, a 1981 YSU graduate and partner in a New York law firm, donated $1 million to create two new professorships in English and History in honor of his grandparents.
Reeder’s gift creates the Robert W. Reeder Memorial Endowed Professorship in History and the Grace Ruth Memorial Endowed Professorship in English. The professorships will be filled by nationally-recognized History and English scholars. Preference for the history professorship will be given to individuals who have written on transportation in the United States in the 19th and 20th Centuries, while preference for the English professorship will be given to women scholars.
“Bringing such talented academicians to YSU certainly raises the university’s academic reputation and allows students and the community to interact with and learn from respected, accomplished scholars,” said Kristine Blair, CLASS dean. - Meanwhile, a corporate gift from Medical Mutual of Ohio is establishing a professorship and scholarships, both in actuarial science. Tom Wakefield, YSU associate professor of Mathematics and nationally recognized actuarial scholar, has been named the Medical Mutual Endowed Professor in Actuarial Science. The student scholarships will be available to YSU undergraduate or graduate students in actuarial science.
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Students studying in the Beeghly College of Education will be able to compete for an additional $80,000 in annual scholarship assistance thanks to a $1.9 million gift from the estate of Ned Kaufman, a former English teacher in the Youngstown and Boardman Schools. Kaufman’s gift honors his parents, Donald and Ann, who were both born in Russia and met after arriving in the United States. Donald Kaufman graduated from Youngstown College of Law and in 1930 opened a successful law practice in the city.Image
“The Kaufman family’s devotion to this region and its history at YSU will be remembered forever through this scholarship endowment,” YSU President Jim Tressel said.
The Beeghly College of Education enrolls nearly 1,000 undergraduate students and nearly 300 graduate students in teacher education, counseling, school psychology and educational leadership programs.
For more information on the We See Tomorrow campaign or to make a gift, visit www.YSUFoundation.org or call 330-941-3211.