2019 Cortland Challenge Breaks Records

03/18/2019 

Thanks to the support of 2,072 donors, the 2019 Cortland Challenge was a record-breaking success.

The total number of donors on March 6 was a new Cortland Challenge record, as was the $210,947 raised to support the needs of current and future SUNY Cortland students.

SUNY Cortland offers its thanks to the alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends who contributed to this year’s Challenge.

“We are amazed by how successful the Cortland Challenge was this year and even more so by the support that we received from the SUNY Cortland community,” said Natasha McFadden, associate director of the Cortland Fund. “It was such an exciting day and we exceeded all of our expectations, so thank you to everyone who participated.”

Last year, 1,384 donors raised $151,360 for the College’s annual 24-hour fundraiser.

A number of generous alumni made matching gifts as the Challenge hit key thresholds. Lynne Parks Hoffman ’68 gave $5,000 to the SUNY Cortland Parks Alumni House Expense Fund at 607 donors. Michael Leeolou ’81 and Catherine Suarez Leeolou ’81 made a gift of $10,500 at 1,000 donors and Patrick Mullaney ’89 gave $10,000 once the Challenge broke the previous record of 1,384 donors. An anonymous member of the Alumni Association Board made a gift of $10,000 once the Challenge reached 1,868 donors in honor of the year of the Cortland Normal School’s Founding.

Jane Grastorf ’62 pledged $3,000 toward a Power Hour, which reached its goal of at least 150 donors between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

John Belmonte ’85, Anthony Moon ’86 and Susan Moon and the C-Club Board of Directors combined to provide $10,200 in matching funds to support the Athletics Challenge segment of the Cortland Challenge.

New this year was a Residence Hall Challenge. Glass Tower Hall had the most donors and won a pizza party for the building.

For a list of Athletics Challenge winners, visit RedDragonNetwork.org.