Letter from Lucille Werlinich

It is always gratifying for me to take a few moments to reflect on the last fiscal year of the Purchase College Foundation and to share with you some highlights. Top of mind is the Purchase College Foundation turned 50 this past December! What an amazing and productive five decades it has been for both the Foundation and for Purchase College. This period of remarkable vision and growth allowed the campus, its students, faculty, and programs to flourish.

One board member who was key to this steady growth was Don Cecil, who provided wise counsel and a steady hand as the long-serving Founding Chair of the Foundation’s Investment Committee. His deep knowledge of markets guided the strategy not only to build and preserve our endowment assets, but to carefully oversee their steady, substantial growth over time. The Purchase College Foundation, valued at nearly $80.5M at the close of FY20, is consistently ranked among the top in all of SUNY. This is a true and lasting tribute to his generosity and efforts. His passing was a tremendous loss to his family, the Foundation board, and the campus community, especially the Neuberger Museum, where he was a longtime member of the Board of the Friends and which held a special place in his heart. He is deeply missed.

The COVID-19 crisis took everyone by surprise and the last four months of the fiscal year were a time for innovation and action. The SUNY Impact Foundation offered all SUNY campuses the opportunity to compete for up to $50,000 in matching funds provided by an anonymous donor. All gifts for Student Emergency Funds contributed between April 15 and June 30 received a dollar-for-dollar matching grant. In the midst of the tumult, faculty, staff, board members, and alumni stepped up, raising $50,424. With the $50,000 in matching funds, there is now a grand total of $100,424 available to assist students to graduation. A special thanks to all who participated!

I hope you will enjoy the new format of the annual report, which focuses on sharing the stories of you, our donors, and the impact of the gifts you have so generously given.

On behalf of the Purchase College Foundation Board of Trustees, thank you.