“SUNY Oswego has never been as strong as it is today,” said President Deborah F. Stanley. “We are a great public institution that marries excellence and opportunity with access and affordability.
October 16 exemplified the best of SUNY Oswego, folding in the excellence from all across campus with the support of our alumni, donors and friends into an unparalleled showcase of Oswego pride.”
Beginning at midnight, ESPN’s Steve Levy of the class of 1987 sponsored a 24-Hour Challenge to the college community to help kick off a historic $40 million fundraising campaign. Levy said if 750 people made a gift to SUNY Oswego on Oct. 16, he would donate $40,000 to the college.
Robin McAleese, a mental health counselor in SUNY Oswego’s Counseling Services Center and a 1993 graduate (master’s ‘95), made her gift at the stroke of midnight—taking the honor of being the first to accept Levy’s challenge.
More than a 1,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members came to campus before 5:30 a.m. to watch the live broadcast of “Wake Up With Al” and to be part of the live on-campus broadcast of NBC’s “Today” with Oswego alumnus Al Roker at 7 a.m. Thousands more Laker fans tuned in for the broadcasts from home.By the halfway mark at noon, 305 donors had already made gifts.
People supported the college for a number of reasons. Robert Casper of the Admissions staff made a gift in honor of his mother, Frances Hitchcock Casper, a 1951 graduate. Peter and Jane North gave a gift in honor of their children, Jaime (class of 2013) and Daniel (class of 2016).
“I am currently a senior and have had the time of my life the first three-plus years I’ve spent here,” said senior Michael Brill, who also accepted Levy’s challenge and made a gift. “Becoming the seventh person in my family to go to Oswego was easily the best decision I ever made.”
While many supporters commented on the role Oswego played in their lives, others just enjoyed the light-hearted nature of Levy’s challenge. “Challenge . . . accepted!” said Adam Obstein, class of 2004, as he made his gift. “If he has $40k to spare, I can spare $40 bucks,” said John Long, class of 1989, who remembered having a class with Levy in his sophomore year.
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