Gifts from alumni are generally the cornerstone of private support for most four-year institutions, but not so for two-year institutions. According to the Council on Aid to Education, alumni gifts averaged more than 41 percent of total giving at Ivy League schools in 2007. Comparatively, only about 6-7 percent of all gifts to community colleges came from alumni last year. The picture is much the same at Onondaga; however, two alumni are hoping to change that through their leadership in the College’s Reach Beyond campaign.
Mark Tryniski, ’81, President and CEO of Community Bank System, Inc., and Donna J. DeSiato ’69, Superintendant of East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District, are co-chairing the Alumni Campaign Committee. “I’ve had the opportunity to look back at my education and career, and recognize the valuable role that Onondaga Community College played in shaping my entire future,” says Tryniski. “Without the College, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Traditionally, the majority of support for community colleges comes from corporations operating within that college’s service area because work force development is a core part of what community colleges do. Despite having gained the skills and confidence to excel at a two-year school, many community college alumni have greater affinity toward four-year colleges and universities where they earned baccalaureate or advanced degrees.
In recent years, however, many wealthy alumni of elite institutions are beginning to question where their philanthropic dollars can make the most difference. A recent article in The New York Times by Zachary Seward notes the trend among graduates of the higher education system. He says, “(Since they are) turned off by massive endowments at the nation’s top schools, they seek to make a greater impact at less wealthy schools.” Their philanthropic dollars simply mean more to an under-funded community college, and donors may get to witness the impact of their gifts right in their own backyards because of the community-based nature of community college education.
“Local investment, local return,” says Tom Burton, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Onondaga. “We are setting aggressive goals for alumni, because they have the potential to make transformational gifts that strengthen not only the College, but the community where they live and work.”
In fact the Reach Beyond campaign is in large part an effort to reconnect with alumni, so Onondaga alumni can expect more events and other outreach geared toward alumni that encourages involvement with the College. The vast majority of Onondaga’s 38,000 alumni remain in the region, forming the foundation of the local work force and the fabric of the Central New York community. They are serving in critical leadership roles throughout our community and beyond.
Tryniski and DeSiato are just two examples of the life changing educational experience gained at Onondaga and the important work alumni are doing in Central New York. After graduating from Onondaga, Tryniski earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY Oswego, and while he chairs the SUNY Oswego Foundation, he credits Onondaga with starting him off on the right path. “Onondaga was my best higher education experience,” he says.
DeSiato earned an associate degree from Onondaga, and went to earn a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Miami, a Master of Science in education from SUNY Cortland, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in educational administration from SUNY Oswego. She completed her Ed.D. at Syracuse University in 2004.
Another alum, Steve Aiello, ’81, is responsible for the largest cash gift to Onondaga by an alumnus in the College’s history. He is the President and Managing Partner of COR Development, LLC. Aiello began a nine-year term on the College’s Board of Trustees this past June.
At Onondaga, alumni like DeSiato, Tryniski and Aiello have already been important to our success through not only their own personal gifts, but through their volunteer service and public support. The College is very fortunate to have them now focused on building the base of support among fellow alumni.