Honoring President Thomas J. Schwarz
Let’s send President Schwarz off with one final gift from the Purchase College community before his incredible 17-year tenure comes to a close.
At the end of July 2019, President Thomas J. Schwarz retired as President of Purchase College. There is no better way to thank President Schwarz for his years of service and incredible commitment to Purchase than to invest in the very thing most dear to him: the success of its students.
The Thomas J. Schwarz Make an Impact Fund was established to build on President Schwarz’s legacy by providing qualifying students with access to emergency grants that enable them to stay in school and earn their degrees even when overwhelmed by a short-term financial crisis. Whether an accident, illness, death of a family member, fire, or other emergency, the fund will provide much-needed support when all other resources have been exhausted. The grants are not intended to replace or supplement existing financial aid and do not have to be repaid.
With a gift of any amount to the Thomas J. Schwarz Make an Impact Fund, you will honor President Schwarz and help students who are facing emergency situations stay in school, earn their degrees, and enter the world Thinking Wide Open.
On the donation page, click on the drop down Designation menu and select the second fund.
During his tenure, President Schwarz:
- Made great strides supporting student success, substantially increasing retention and graduation rates far exceeding the national average
- Spearheaded efforts that landed Purchase on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Ten Public Liberal Arts Colleges
- Became a national leader in sustainability, taking important steps toward climate neutrality
- Oversaw $400 million in capital construction and rehabilitation including new state-of-the-art academic and residential buildings, transforming and beautifying the campus
- Integrated the Neuberger Museum of Art and The Performing Arts Center with academic affairs, providing opportunities for students and the community to take greater advantage of these cultural assets
- Led the increase in the Purchase College Foundation and Charitable Entities’ investment portfolio from $35 million to $95 million over the past decade
- Created unique revenue streams for the college, including the Park 2 Fly airport parking service and upon completion, the Broadview Senior Living Community