Successful 321 Challenge Reaches Goal after Goal

03/21/2017 

SUNY Cortland's 321 Challenge met its goal and then some Tuesday, March 21.

By midnight, A total of 601 donors made gifts to the Cortland Fund totaling $117,073.70 during the annual 24-hour drive.

The initial goal had been to get donations of any size from 321 different donors, in order to trigger an $11,000 matching gift provided by generous Red Dragon alumni Victor M. Rumore II '84 and Michael J. Cappeto '71, M '73.

Soon after that goal was reached at 3:04 p.m., Monica Bedford Voldstad '72, M '77, Michael Leeolou '81 and Catherine Suarez Leeolou '81 proposed to give an additional $10,000 matching gift if the Challenge upped the ante to 500 donors. Once that was hit, Michael Leeolou '81 offered another $11,000 match as incentive for reaching 550 donors.

Collectively, these matching gifts totaled $32,100. (321 - see what they did there?)

In addition, Louise M. Conley made a gift of $10,000 for high-donating reunion celebrants who will be recognized during Reunion 2017.
"We are so proud of all Red Dragons," said Erin Boylan, interim director of the Cortland Fund. "Their support will have a lasting impact on the education experience offered at SUNY Cortland by providing scholarships, classroom innovations, faculty and staff development, cultural programming and undergraduate research opportunities.

Although SUNY Cortland is a state-funded institution, less than 25 percent of its operating budget comes from state government. To help close the gap, the Cortland Fund works to raise money through donations that support and enrich the Red Dragon educational experience.

“The Cortland Fund touches every area of campus, from more than 865 scholarship recipients to faculty and staff who receive funding for classroom innovations and undergraduate research opportunities,” Boylan said. “I am so grateful we have amazing alumni who are willing to step forward and draw attention to the importance of giving at SUNY Cortland by providing generous match gifts for the 321 Champions Challenge.”

The Cortland Fund recently posted a video on YouTube that explained the 321 race against the clock. If you’re a “24” fan, you’ll want to check it out.

And remember, just because the 321 Challenge is over, it doesn't mean you have to wait for next year's fundraising marathon to contribute.

Donations can be made online at www.RedDragonNetwork.org/challenge. Gifts to the Cortland College Foundation, Inc. are tax deductible. Charitable gifts can be designed to maximize the donor’s tax status while providing support to SUNY Cortland.

For more information, contact Boylan or call 607-753-5578.