ANNUAL REPORT AND HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 2016-2017 EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION 2016-2017 Annual Report and Honor Roll of Donors 1 ANNUAL REPORT AND HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 2016-2017 Table of Contents President’s Message 2 Chairman’s Message 3 Executive Director’s Message 4 ESU Foundation Board of Directors 2016-2017 5 Impact 6 Financial Highlights 8 Highlights of 2015-2016 10 Special Campaigns 12 Honor Roll of Donors 14 EAST STROUDSBURG Scholarship Report 24 UNIVERSITY Office of Alumni Engagement 26 FOUNDATION Alumni Honor Roll 30 Mission Statement Ways to Give 40 ESU Foundation Staff & Office of University Advancement Listing 40 The East Stroudsburg University Foundation fosters lifelong relationships with alumni and friends of East Stroudsburg University, securing philanthropic support to advance the Uni- versity’s mission and to enhance every student’s University experience. 2016-2017 Annual Report and Honor Roll of Donors 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE | Robert Willever ’75 have been created to help our students excel. One Reviewing the successes of 2016-2017, I am honored to great example is Eric Januszkiewicz’s story about his see the outpouring of support for East Stroudsburg initial interest in biology that led to a passion for University and its students by our donors. Thanks to the wildlife DNA that ultimately resulted in rattlesnake more than $3.1 million raised by the ESU Foundation this research thanks to the support of donors. Eric’s year, we are able to help create a new generation of academic journey is just one of many success stories Warrior alumni that will make a profound mark on told on our campus. This year, 569 scholarships were the world. awarded through the ESU Foundation. Based on donor The ESU Foundation 2016-2017 Annual Report and generosity, the ESU Foundation has been able to award Honor Roll of Donors recognizes and celebrates those more than $742,200 in scholarships during the 2016- who have shown their support through a gift to 2017 academic year, an increase of $17,289 from the scholarship, academic or athletic programs, and the previous year. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful our Warrior Fund. No matter the size of gift, your investment students are for this support. directly enriches the experience of all of our students, Others in this report have given back by coming to from the first generation freshmen to the non-traditional campus and sharing their professional experiences undergraduate or graduate student. Friends, with our students, creating endowed lecture initiatives Since becoming chair of the Board of Directors in 2014, statement. In addition, we successfully completed an This is the time of year when we pause and give thanks to bring industry experts to campus to share cutting- I’ve been fortunate to see the incredible opportunities the RFP for financial services which resulted in a significant for all the good in our lives. As President of East edge material that enhances the classroom lectures, Foundation offers students. At events such as the Annual savings in management fees. We have also continued to Stroudsburg University, the sentiment runs much and organizing fundraising initiatives to benefit our Scholarship Dinner, when student scholarship recipients fortify our board membership with individuals who bring deeper; I am so incredibly appreciative of the Warrior students as they tackle financial need. All gifts, great and their donors meet for the first time, I am quickly talent and knowledge to the organization. Our family that touches every corner of my life, every day. and small, have helped us to continuously improve reminded how very important our work continues to be. effectiveness not only comes from their intelligence and Whether you’re a student sharing your experiences, a YOUR ESU. Our students amaze me with their enthusiasm and experience but also from the best practices we continue faculty member explaining a research project, a staff Yet our work is far from done. The ESU Foundation, in academic drive while, at the same time, they understand to strive towards in all we do. member helping a student, an alumnus announcing cooperation with all of us at ESU, helps to identify the the necessity to show their gratitude to someone they Throughout this book you will read the many successes successful professional growth, a parent participating in ongoing needs of our students and our institution and don’t know personally, but someone who helped make of the year and the impacts made for ESU’s students. family weekend activities on our campus or a share those opportunities with all of you. As we move their college education possible. While we can celebrate the past year, you can be assured community member and neighbor making time to better forward, our work on behalf of ESU must ultimately be This year, I’m pleased to share that the ESU Foundation the ESU Foundation is moving forward with its current know our students – you play a critical role in all we do. collaborative, innovative and lead to the preparation continued its momentum gained in connecting with and priorities grounded in the university’s strategic plan that This report clearly demonstrates that our alumni, and success of our graduates. My hope is that you will involving the ESU community and beyond through puts all Students First. Working with ESU President faculty, staff, parents and friends of ESU are committed take time to read this report, recognize how far we’ve initiatives such as the baseball/softball field Marcia G. Welsh and her team, the Foundation looks to to continuing ESU’s legacy of offering students a high come with your support and then take a moment to enhancement campaign. Also, as the Foundation team another exciting year of milestones and quality education that is not only accessible but consider your place in ESU’s future. Please join me in continues to solidify its strategies, we were also able to accomplishments in 2017-2018. I thank all those who forward thinking. That’s a tall order given the financial the next leg of the journey. add key staff in alumni engagement, data management, played a part in the year’s work – our board members, needs of our students and the fiscal challenges of annual giving and major gifts, giving the team the needed Dr. Welsh and her council, the Foundation leadership and operating a public institution of higher education in resources to engage our alumni and friends. staff, and of course you, our donors. Your continued these difficult times of decreasing high school Administratively, the Foundation board conducted a generosity gives evidence to the strength of the ESU graduates and increasing competition among colleges review and update of its by-laws and investment policy community and all it represents. and universities to attract and retain them. Thank you again for your support and we look forward to But we are true Warriors and we are certain to prevail! partnering with you in the coming year. This is evidenced in the time and treasures shared here. First and foremost are the scholarships that 2 www.esufoundation.org 2016-2017 Annual Report and Honor Roll of Donors 3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE | Rich Santoro East Stroudsburg University Foundation 2017-2018 Board of Directors Robert Willever ’75, Chairman President, Willever Wealth Management fundraising total in the ESU Foundation’s history, a Dr. Frank M. Pullo ’73 M’76, Vice Chairman benchmark we achieved not only because you see Retired Faculty, East Stroudsburg University merit in our mission, but you understand the value of Chris Yeager ’74 M’81, Secretary a quality college education. Retired Principal and School Superintendent On the fundraising front, the baseball/softball turf field campaign, which was announced at the end of fiscal year 2016, made steady progress throughout Robert A. Shebelsky, Treasurer the year with our fundraising total at $1.15 million. Chairman, Deputy Real Estate Holdings LLC. For the first time in our history we ran a Giving William B. Cramer, Esq. Tuesday campaign and surpassed our one day goal Attorney, Cramer, Swetz, McManus & Jordan, P.C. of $30,000. Other campaigns launched were a MaryEllen Dickey ’80 wrestling scholarship campaign, a football recurring Senior Vice President of Advancement gift campaign and a faculty/staff campaign. We had Diakon Senior Living Services another strong year in raising money for Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries scholarships; securing 27 new annual scholarships In the day to day operations at the East Stroudsburg and 7 new endowed scholarships. Raymond Hamlin ’86, Esq. University Foundation, it’s pretty easy to get caught Attorney, Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley We continued to elevate our cultivation and up in all the moving parts, momentarily losing sight Harry F. Lee, Esq., Council of Trustees Liaison of what makes our work so meaningful. Quite often, stewardship events with highlights being the Attorney, Lee Law Offices President’s Gala, the launching of the President’s in my capacity as executive director, I am fortunate to Douglas Leonzi ’94 meet with individuals who, in some way, have a Entrepreneurship Speakers Series and our annual Vice President – Investment Counselor connection to ESU. Alumni, or perhaps the spouse or scholarship luncheon being reformatted to a dinner, BB&T Investment Services, Inc. family member of an alumnus who passed, providing a more intimate interaction between members of the community or business leaders – donors and their students. We also increased our these are just a few of the wonderful people I meet outreach to alumni through personal visits, 35 off- Anthony Pasqua ’00 Chief Operating Officer, Magnolia Road Capital LP on a nearly daily basis.