donor impact report - monmouth university

DONOR IMPACT REPORT

July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019

2 // Giving Year 2019 • July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019

MESSAGE FROM UNIVERSITY

ADVANCEMENT VICE PRESIDENT

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The success of Together We Can: The Campaign for Scholarship, helped to lead Monmouth

University to an impressive level of external

philanthropic support in the 2018-2019 fiscal

year—reaching the second highest total in

University history.

During the final year of President Dimenna’s

tenure, more than $15.4 million in gifts, pledges,

and planned gifts contributed to an increase

of more than 65 percent over the $9.3 million

committed the previous year.

With the help of over 2,000 donors, the volunteer-

backed effort, Together We Can: The Campaign for Scholarship, exceeded its ambitious target

by more than 30 percent. After extending the

campaign one month to coincide with the

presidential transition, the scholarship drive

captured more than $19.6 million in gifts, pledges,

and planned gifts.

While the scholarship campaign was the

clear focus of our fundraising efforts last

year, we also received a number of important

contributions that will strengthen Monmouth

in the years ahead.

Thanks to a generous gift from former board

chair, Bob Sculthorpe ’63 ’15HN, students are

able to do extensive research on local waterways

and ocean life aboard the 49-foot research vessel

Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe, named in memory of

his daughter. A $270,000 grant from the Jules

L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation provided

significant upgrades for lighting and audio

equipment in the Monty Television Studio at

the heart of the Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Center for

Communication & Instructional Technology,

will also have a direct impact on providing state-

of-the-art equipment for experiential learning.

Looking beyond the gates of our undergraduate

campus, a quarter million dollar gift from

the JAM Anonymous Foundation helped to

further architectural planning for the proposed

Monmouth Marine & Environmental Field

Station on the banks of the Navesink River. Once

community funding is secured for construction

of the Station, students in our Marine &

Environmental Biology Policy program and in our

School of Education will benefit from hands-on

research and teaching opportunities through a

partnership with the Borough of Rumson.

Excitement about the success of the previous year

has carried forward to the fall semester and the

start of a new chapter in Monmouth’s history.

Following a comprehensive national search,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy ushered in a new era as

Monmouth’s 10th president on August 1.

President Leahy has already committed to an

ambitious timetable for a new strategic plan

that will build upon the accelerating trajectory

of achievement that Monmouth has enjoyed in

recent years. The process will set new strategic

priorities for the university, resulting in exciting

fundraising activities in the years to come.

While each new year brings a new class of eager

first-year students, and a new cohort of Hawks

ready to graduate and begin a new journey, some

things are steadfast. Your support makes a real

difference to the experiences and outcomes of

our students. I hope you enjoy reading about the

collective impact you have made on our students,

our university, and our future as much as we have

enjoyed the remarkable progress at Monmouth

over the last year.

With sincere thanks,

JONATHAN MEER

Vice President for University Advancement


YOUR GIFTS IN ACTIONJULY 1, 2018 – JUNE 30, 2019

Fundraising Highlights

1,898 new donors

808 new alumni donors

$15,422,827 raised in gifts and pledges

Leon Hess Business School$1,224,931

$71,648

$374,808

$896,037

$79,680

$1,941,579

$386,117

$802,866

$9,645,161

Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies

School of Education

School of Science

School of Social Work

Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Athletics

Facilities

Other or Undesignated

3,404 donors

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Donor-funded Scholarship Support

Awarded more than $1.5 millionin donor-funded private scholarships

546number of students who received donor-funded scholarships

119number of annual scholarships awarded

175number of endowed scholarships awarded


TOGETHER WE CAN: THE CAMPAIGN FOR SCHOLARSHIPJULY 1, 2017 – JULY 31, 2019

On July 31, we successfully concluded Together We Can: The Campaign for Scholarship. Our goal

for the campaign was $15 million; Thanks to our

generous donors, alumni and friends, we raised

$19,644,297 in gifts and pledges—surpassing our

target by more than 30 percent.

A $200,000 challenge grant from OceanFirst

Foundation in June helped spur on $456,969

in new gifts and pledges late in the campaign.

A generous $4 million trust commitment from

alumnus Don Bressler ’61, and his wife, Hedy,

made an emphatic conclusion to the campaign

for our students.

We were fortunate to secure very strong

participation from our Board of Trustees, and

broad support from faculty and staff, with

almost $700,000 committed by members of the

University community.

The overwhelming success of the campaign

will enhance Monmouth’s ability to attract

highly qualified students from economically,

geographically, and culturally diverse

backgrounds, and accelerate our trajectory of

academic excellence in the years ahead.

Campaign co-chairs Carol Stillwell and Valerie Montecalvo

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69newly established annual scholarships

35newly established endowed scholarships

15newly established distinguished endowed scholarships

30% 327 Undergraduates

Senior Class Giving

73 Graduates14%

JULY 1, 2017-JULY 31, 2019


Impact Stories

Linda Deutsch ’65 has covered some of the

highest-profile legal cases in America since her

time as a student at Monmouth. After a 48 year

career in journalism, Deutsch now serves as a

special correspondent for The Associated Press

following her retirement in December 2014.

Her first “trial of the century” a superlative

that her journalistic career has encompassed

many times—was Charles Manson. Her career

spans the trials of Sirhan Sirhan, Angela

Davis (Black Panthers), Patty Hearst, Daniel

Ellsberg, John DeLorean, director John Landis,

Exxon Valdez skipper Joseph Hazelwood, the

Menendez brothers, William Kennedy Smith,

the four police officers accused in the beating

of motorist Rodney King, Unabomber Theodore

Kaczynski, O.J. Simpson, Anna Nicole Smith,

and Michael Jackson.

When she started at The Associated Press in

1967, she was the only woman in the newsroom.

She was also one of the female journalists who

sued The Associated Press for equal pay and

the right to be called “newswomen” rather than

“newsmen,” as a champion for both the freedom

of the press and the rights of women journalists.

With her legacy as a national reporter secure,

Deutsch made a huge impact on the outcome of

Together We Can: The Campaign for Scholarship

with her generous bequest to establish and

support the Linda Deutsch ’65 Distinguished

Endowed Scholarship.

Her planned gift—with an estimated value of

$1 million—will provide funding to aspiring

journalists, and build upon Deutsch’s long

involvement with Monmouth. From her days as

a reporter and editor at The Outlook, editor of the

Monmouth Letters (now Monmouth Review),

Distinguished Alumna in 1996, and member

of the Monmouth Award for Communication

Excellence (MACE) Committee, Deutsch has

continued to give back, and to propel future

generations of students toward the model of

professional excellence her career embodies.

In recognition of her generosity, involvement,

and professional legacy, the office space of the

student-run newspaper, The Outlook, was named

the Linda Deutsch ’65 Student Journalism Center

on November 11. The dedication took place on

the second floor of the Jules Plangere, Jr. Center

for Communication, where The Outlook is

currently located. Plangere was publisher of the

Asbury Park Press when Deutsch launched her

career there.

“Monmouth was one of the best experiences

of my life. It was the place where people really

cared about learning. It was a treasure trove

of intellectual experience. I wouldn’t be the

same person I am today if it hadn’t been for

Monmouth,” Deutsch says.

LINDA DEUTSCH ’65

Legendary reporter creates new legacy

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CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS

Valerie Montecalvo

Carol A. Stillwell

CAMPAIGN HONORARY CO-CHAIRS

John C. Conover III

Paul G. Gaffney II

Rebecca Stafford ’03HN

CAMPAIGN CABINET

Steven M. Bachrach

Mary Lee Bass ’92M

Raymond N. Brunt ’77 ’78M

Karyn F. Cusanelli ’89

Joyce DeJohn

Grey J. Dimenna

Tina Grecco-Almeida ’01

John Henning

Leah K. Lazzaro ’04M

Janet Mahoney ’87

Robin Mama

Rita L. Mangan ’77

Thomas J. Michelli

Donald M. Moliver

Antoinette M. Musorrafiti

Mary Anne Nagy ’91M ’01M

Charles T. Parton ’01HN

Andrew Pedersen

James D. Pillar

Patricia Ralph

Richard L. Ricciardi ’86M

Rosaly Rivera ’07 ’14M

Lu-Ann Russell

John L. Ryan

Harry Silver

Edward Skibiak

Ellen Skibiak

Joseph Snable ’95

Richard F. Veit, Jr.

Nicholas Verzicco ’19

Kenneth Womack

STAFF COORDINATOR

Stephanie Tolas ’03 ’05M

THANKS TO OUR CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS


Impact Stories

Jim Pillar, associate vice president for Student

Life, has worked at Monmouth for more than

24 years—helping students navigate their

educational journey. His entire career has been

in student services, spanning a wide range

of responsibilities. Growing up in a working

class family with two sisters in Old Bridge, NJ,

his parents believed that “good karma” was

important to happiness. Jim’s parents also wanted

their children to enjoy an even better quality of

life than they had. Jim recalls that an important

part of the fabric that defined his family was

helping make the world a better place by helping

those in need around them. Jim’s mother, Patricia,

was always assisting with church food drives

around the holidays or simply trying to help

those who needed some assistance. “You helped

however you could, through your actions or

financially if able,” Jim said.

It was his mother who helped him find his job at

Monmouth, thanks to a classified ad in the Asbury Park Press in the spring of 1995, spotted while

cutting an advertisement out of the paper. Jim

was transitioning careers at a different university,

and considering leaving higher education when

his mother reminded him of the importance of

a career with purpose, and serving others. She

wanted him to enjoy work that made a difference

in the lives of others, and thus his Monmouth

relationship began.

Jim started an annual scholarship to honor

his mother’s memory. “Mom always wanted

to help whoever she could, so the scholarship

was created with minimal criteria, to help those

who need it most. I’ll let the experts decide on

who should receive the scholarship.” Jim also

pledged to permanently endow his scholarship

with an estate gift so his mother’s legacy will

live in perpetuity.

Throughout his distinguished career working with

students, Jim has seen how a minimal amount of

financial assistance can allow students to survive

and can make or break a young person’s future.

When the opportunity came to assist in Together We Can: The Campaign for Scholarship he

jumped at the chance to volunteer stating, “even

if you cannot give large amounts of money you

can make a difference through your efforts… help

how you can where you can,” ingrained in him by

his parents.

JAMES PILLAR, Ed.D.

A career in service to students

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Ellen and Ed Skibiak’s daughter, Allie, was an

aspiring sophomore at Fairfield University

when she had to withdraw from school for

medical reasons. During her leave, Allie lost

academic confidence and began considering

career options where a college degree was

not necessary. Ellen and Ed were supportive

of whatever path Allie chose, but strongly

encouraged her to consider higher education

one more time.

Allie’s two cousins, both recent graduates

of Monmouth, had already shared the great

experiences that they had at the university. Her

cousins raved about professors who played a

pivotal role in their academic growth, and how

Monmouth’s faculty were committed to the

success of each student.

Realizing Monmouth could be a great option

for her, because of its location close to her

doctors and family; and the positive experiences

of her cousins, Allie drove with her parents

to the admissions office for an interview. She

instantly felt at home on campus and knew that

Monmouth was the right choice.

Monmouth’s Department of Disability

Services worked with Allie to ensure she

had all the support she needed on campus

to feel comfortable and succeed, including

accommodations for Allie’s service dog, Tulip.

Allie says that her classmates were always

supportive and open-minded.

Allie graduated summa cum laude in 2018 and

is currently pursuing her MBA at Monmouth.

Thankful for the support that Allie received

during her time at Monmouth, Ellen and

Ed Skibiak gave back by establishing two

scholarships.

Ellen says, “Monmouth was a turning point for

Allie. It’s a gem. A quiet, unpretentious gem that

occupies a beautiful space by the Jersey shore.

So many lives could take a great path being at

and thriving in an environment like Monmouth.”

ALLIE SKIBIAK ’18

An extended family at Monmouth


NICOLE SIVETZ ’19

Next stop: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for a Ph.D. in biological sciences

When Nicole Sivetz began her Ph.D. studies at

the Watson School of Biological Sciences at Cold

Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) this fall, it

was a homecoming of sorts. Last summer, Sivetz

participated in CSHL’s highly selective summer

undergraduate research program. “Cold Spring

is kind of like the Disney World of molecular

biology,” says Sivetz about the world-renowned

institution, which is home to eight Nobel

laureates. “People from all over the world come

here to teach, share the latest in their research,

and … make decisions about policies that involve

research development. It’s a place that has its

finger on the pulse of what goes on, and it was my

dream to go there to learn.”

Sivetz, an Honors School graduate who

majored in molecular biology and chemistry at

Monmouth, worked on cancer-related therapies

in the labs of Professors Martin Hicks and

Massimiliano Lamberto. She says being able to do

hands-on, mentored research beginning in her

freshman year “definitely gave me an advantage”

when she applied to CSHL’s Ph.D. program.

Her strong academic performance was rewarded

by support from a number of scholarships

during her senior year, including, the Dooley

Family Scholarship, the Dr. Harold Jacobs

Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Science/

Technology. The Hedy and Donald Bressler

Endowed Scholarship, the ICFNJ Sol J. Barer

Scholarship in Life Sciences, and the Monmouth-

Ocean Development Council Scholarship.

“I’m so grateful to be leaving this place

[Monmouth] knowing that I left no stone

unturned and that I took advantage of everything

this place had to offer me,” says Sivetz. “I’m not

afraid for what’s next. I feel very prepared.”

Impact Stories

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The day after receiving his BSN from Valparaiso

University, Ali Shahine moved to New Jersey

to enroll in Monmouth’s MSN in Adult-

Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

program. Shahine, who turned down acceptance

offers from both Georgetown and Sacred Heart

universities, says Monmouth was a good fit

academically and offered him the prestigious

Marjorie K. Unterberg Scholarship in Nursing, a

a perk he found to be rare while looking at other

master’s programs. “Graduate school can be

pricey, so that was a big difference,” he says.

That doesn’t mean Shahine didn’t need student

loans—he did (though there’s a happy ending to

this part of his story as well). He also worked full

time as an RN throughout his master’s studies,

first at Monmouth Medical Center and later at

Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City—something

made easier by the hybrid nature of his

last-semester which allowed him to take class

on campus, and online the following week.

Shahine says the knowledge he accumulated

from his studies at Monmouth, and the hands-

on experience he gleaned through his clinical

experiences (as well as working as an RN) “truly

prepared me for the next step.” For now, that

step is working as an RN in the Cardiovascular

Intensive Care Unit at Scripps Memorial

Hospital La Jolla. He plans to take his Nurse

Practitioner boards this summer, after which he

would ultimately like to work as an NP in either

cardiology or dermatology, and perhaps teach.

Oh, and about those student loans? By scrimping

and saving—and working a lot of overtime

at the hospital—Shahine paid off both his

undergraduate and graduate student loans before

graduating last May. “I’m debt free, done with

school, and I have a job,” he says. “Thank you!”

ALI SHAHINE ’19M

Next stop: Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla in San Diego


Holiday Ball Monmouth University’s annual Holiday Ball, held

on the first Saturday of each December, is the

region’s preeminent social event. The gala raises

funds to support scholarships; In 2018, the festive

event raised more than $135,000.

Kislak Real Estate Leadership Excellence Award DinnerThe Leadership Excellence Award recognizes the

interdependent relationship between Monmouth

University and the real estate industry. The

award is conferred annually upon an outstanding

individual for his or her distinctive contributions

to the state of New Jersey and the nation through

a career in real estate.

The 2019 event honoree was Ralph Zucker,

president of Somerset Development, LLC.

Distinguished Business Leaders Award DinnerThe Distinguished Business Leaders Award

was established in 1983 as part of Monmouth

University’s 50th anniversary celebration to pay

tribute to the important contributions of the

business community in the development of this

school during its first half-century. The award has

honored individuals, and groups of individuals,

who have made distinctive contributions to

the tri-state business community through

outstanding corporate and civic leadership.

The 2018 honoree was Carol Stillwell, president and

CEO of Stillwell-Hansen, Inc. Proceeds benefited

the Grey J. Dimenna, Esq. Endowed Scholarship

and the Simko Family Endowed Scholarship.

Trustee Denis Gallagher ’76 will be honored with

the Distinguished Business Leaders Award on

February 27, 2020. Gallagher, an entrepreneur and

founder and former chairman and CEO of Student

Transportation, Inc., was also the recipient of the

Distinguished Alumni Award in 1992.

The R/V Heidi Lynn SculthorpeThe School of Science and Urban Coast Institute

(UCI) celebrated the naming of the Research

Vessel Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe, a 49-foot boat

that can carry 21 passengers, sleep between 6-8,

and venture 20 nautical miles from shore. The

vessel, which is Monmouth’s largest, was named

in memory of former student and daughter of

former Monmouth University Board Chair

Robert B. Sculthorpe ’63 ’15HN. Along with

two smaller research vessels, the 18-foot Little Hawk and 27-foot Seahawk, the R/V Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe significantly increases opportunities for

student-faculty research near our coastal campus.

GIVING HIGHLIGHTS

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President’s Society recognizes donors who

have made cumulative gifts of $1,000 or more

annually to support Monmouth’s schools,

programs, facilities and athletics during the

fiscal year.

Endowment Society includes donors who

have given $25,000 or more to establish an

endowment.

Vision Society distinguishes the university’s

premier donors, those who have made

cumulative gifts of $100,000 or more during their

lifetime to support Monmouth.

Shadow Lawn Society embraces donors whose

gifts will benefit the university in the future,

through estate gifts, beneficiary designations, or

financial plans.

GIVING SOCIETIESAbout Monmouth University’s Giving Societies

Members of the Vision Society were recognized at a reception on the roof of Wilson Hall.

Our four giving societies-President’s Society, Endowment Society, Vision Society and Shadow Lawn Society-were created to recognize generous supporters of Monmouth University. Our societies celebrate

four types of giving:

www.monmouth.edu

donor impact report - monmouth university

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