Cortland Challenge 2022 sets a new bar

04/19/2022 

Faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents and friends of SUNY Cortland came together for the 24-hour Cortland Challenge on April 6 in another record-breaking display of dedication to our students.

A total of 3,361 donors contributed $472,595 to the university in support of current and future Red Dragons.

Both figures far surpass the Challenge records set last year when 2,370 donors gave more than $313,000 during the one-day fundraising event.

“The record-breaking success of this year’s Cortland Challenge is beyond anything that we even imagined was possible,” said Natasha McFadden, director of The Cortland Fund and organizer of the annual challenge. “To every person who participated in the Challenge and made a gift, thank you! Your generosity speaks volumes about what it means to be a Red Dragon.”

The Cortland Fund supports students and campus life in a variety of ways, including scholarships, athletics, technology, major events, professional staff and faculty development and Alumni Engagement support. This year, donors were encouraged to target their gifts to specific university programs.

For example, nearly $175,000 of the Challenge total was raised for the SUNY Cortland Athletics program by supporters of specific teams who competed to see who could raise the most or tally the most donors. To learn more about the winners of the Athletics Challenge and the successes of your teams, visit RedDragonNetwork.org/athletics challenge.

In support of the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House, Michael J. Cappeto ’71 M ’73 made provisions to become the ninth Alumni House Trustee. When combined with all other contributions to the Parks Alumni House, this gift exceeded the goal for the match from Lynne Parks Hoffman ’68, unlocking another $25,000.

Parks’ match was part of more than $70,000 in matching gifts put up by donors that participants in the challenge were able to unlock with their gifts.

Among the generous alumni who pledged matching gifts to support the Cortland Challenge were Sheri Baron ’77, Linda Gadkowski ’66, Anthony ’86 and Susan Moon, Victor M. Rumore II ’84 and Cheryl Barredo M ’81.

Some supporters provided matching gifts aimed at specific areas. Ernie Logan ’73, Rob Bookman ’76, Barry Thornton ’93, Frank Rossi and Dave Kronman ’80all gave matching gifts to drive student and academic department giving.

Several others pledged matching gifts to a general athletics challenge. They were Mike Cappeto ’71, M ’73; Sandy Morley ’77; Barbara LoPiccolo ’69; Joan Sitterly and Gary Miller; Paul Fernandes ’67 and Kathy Lopez Fernandes ’67; Don ’75, M ’80 and Loraine Ridall ’77, M ’78, and Jim ’63 and Lois Codispoti ’64.