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J2 Scholarship Challenge Grant Exceeds Expectations

The J2 Scholarship Challenge Grant for Student Success in Honor of Thomas J. Schwarz, President Emeritus, initiated in 2018 by Chemistry alumnus John Ambroseo ’83 and his wife, Jeanette LaCorte, continues to inspire corporations and foundations to generously support student scholarships.

Four years ago, this generous alum honored retiring President Thomas J. Schwarz for his 17 years of leadership with a Scholarship Challenge Grant of $500,000 and the goal of raising an additional $1,000,000 in scholarship funds. During fiscal year 2021, this Challenge Grant was completed, having exceeded its expectations. It inspired $678,598.65 in new scholarship donations and 17 new scholarship funds for Purchase College, and raised a total of $1,100,000.

Three Foundations Respond to Challenge and Double their Scholarship Impact

In 2005, The Windgate Foundation generously contributed to the School of Art + Design in order to launch a scholarship fund for students in the program. Now, in response to the J2 Matching 1:1 Challenge, the Windgate Foundation has donated an additional $150,000 through a three-year commitment of $50,000 per year, and in so doing, added $300,000 to its scholarship fund for students in Art + Design.

The Frances and Benjamin Benenson Foundation, long-time donors to Purchase College, created a new scholarship endowment of $350,000, The Charles B. Benenson Endowed Scholarship, with a $250,000 multi-year pledge over five years of $50,000 contributions. $100,000 of this was matched by the J2 Matching Challenge.

The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation also responded to the J2 Matching Challenge with a multi-year pledge of $7,500 per year. The J2 Matching Challenge allowed The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation to double its scholarship support and promise $30,000 in funds. The Ella Fitzgerald scholarship is awarded each year to two jazz studies students who are vocalists with merit in American Song.

A performance by an Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocalist Memorial Scholar inspired the Manitou Fund to establish its own Jazz Studies Scholarship Fund that will support students pursuing all performance disciplines in jazz. The $30,000 annual gift will go to four students.