{"id":655,"date":"2024-10-25T17:03:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T21:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/?page_id=655"},"modified":"2024-11-21T09:03:38","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T14:03:38","slug":"donors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/generosity\/donors\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving the World One Donor at a Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are thrilled to report that our dedicated and passionate alumni and friends have once again given generously, providing far-reaching support for scholarships, research, student life, athletics, and many other activities across the University.<\/strong> As the University seeks to address societal challenges ranging from climate change to AI to infectious diseases, these funds will help us discover solutions, initiate action, and open the door to the next generation of leaders and changemakers.<\/p>\n

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President Melissa Gilliam<\/strong> (center) closed out the celebration of her inauguration as Boston University\u2019s 11th president with BU Night at Fenway Park.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s more, our donor base is very broad, with gifts in a variety of forms from alumni, parents, foundations, and friends. Speaking of alumni, we\u2019re pleased to report a robust expansion of alumni engagement on a national and international scale, connecting with proud Terriers through regional network events, alumni summits, podcasts, and more.<\/p>\n

As always, we see the results of our donor generosity providing long-term benefit for the world. A new gift from James (Questrom\u201981) and Eileen Rullo will continue their generous support of the Center on Forced Displacement<\/strong><\/a>, which helps further the center\u2019s vital mission of finding ethical interventions for millions who have fled their homes due to war, persecution, and other disasters. And the PI Sustainability Research Endowment Fund, established at our Institute for Global Sustainability<\/strong><\/a>, will help build a future focused on sustainable policies and initiatives, thanks to the gift from Mayank Singhal via PI Industries Ltd.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are receiving extraordinary and broadbased support. This will enable us to support the strategic priorities of President Gilliam as she begins her tenure at BU.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014KAREN ENGELBOURG<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some of our past gifts continue to bear fruit. The transformational $100 million gift from the late Edward Avedisian (CFA\u201959,\u201961, Hon.\u201922) and his wife, Pamela (Hon.\u201923), a milestone donation in 2022 that renamed our medical school the Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, also provided professorships, seven of which have been awarded to BU faculty<\/a>. In FY2024, those professors continued to guide and inspire students in the areas of virology, ophthalmology, biochemistry, and more.<\/p>\n

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Boston University garners crucial support from a global network of alumni.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many FY2024 gifts supported several scholarships, furthering our mission to expand access to education for a wider range of deserving students. A $200,000 pledge from David Fasciano (CAS\u201988) established a Century Challenge scholarship at the College of Arts & Sciences in memory of his late brother, Paul. The scholarships awarded from Century Challenge funds are matched by BU for 100 years after the fund is activated. Another noteworthy gift was a $100,000 pledge from Matthew (CAS\u201985) and Isabel Zisk, establishing the Betty H. Zisk Trailblazer Endowed Scholarship Fund in memory of Matthew’s mother, Professor Emerita Betty H. Zisk, a pioneering activist who taught political science at Boston University for 46 years.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to BU\u2019s annual Giving Day<\/strong>, the scarlet-and-white school spirit of student-volunteers is our secret ingredient.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally, this year\u2019s Giving Day<\/strong><\/a> did not disappoint. More than 11,500 donors, supporting over 800 causes, made gifts in excess of $3.88 million. That was a record amount, with a record number of matching challenges, and further proof that the Terrier spirit is alive and well across the country and around the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are receiving extraordinary and broad-based support,\u201d says Senior Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations Karen Engelbourg<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cThis will enable us to support the strategic priorities of President Gilliam as she begins her tenure at BU with a focus on empowering the school\u2019s research and expertise to meet the needs of today\u2019s complex world.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are thrilled to report that our dedicated and passionate alumni and friends have once […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12906,"featured_media":0,"parent":118,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"bu-landing","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/655"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12906"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=655"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":900,"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/655\/revisions\/900"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ar.bu.edu\/2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}