Canisius Fund Impact Report 2018-19

I M P A C T

R E P O R T

Because of YOU countless Canisius students have been transformed!

2018-19 Canisius Fund

034.1920 DEVEL_Impact Report_BRO.indd 3

8/1/19 11:45 AM

“ Canisius College is a place where I have not only seen a constant striving to do more and to be more, but I have also found that breaking the status quo is accepted and encouraged.”

034.1920 DEVEL_Impact Report_BRO.indd 4

–C ameron T. Rosenecker ’19, 2019 Undergraduate Commencement Student Speaker

8/1/19 11:45 AM

The power of the Canisius Fund— and the impact of your support One of Canisius’ greatest assets is the close-knit community – we’re a Jesuit college where faculty and administrators come together to give students a transformative education rooted in a 450-year-old academic tradition of excellence, leadership and service to others.

What makes this all possible? Your support of the Canisius Fund. Powered by alumni and friends at all levels of support, this vital resource drives the momentum that makes Canisius a remarkable place to learn for every student, every day.

From young alumni to parents and grandparents, from faculty and staff to leadership donors, the Canisius Fund is an opportunity for all of us to affirm our belief in a premier Catholic, Jesuit education for today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders.

Your Impact • You made it possible for more students to receive aid. Each year, there are more students with financial need than can be funded through existing endowed scholarships. You supported scholarships in real time, ensuring students with aspirations for a Jesuit education were able to make a choice based on values, not finances.

• You were a student’s champion when they needed it most. Your support ensured that each and every student had year-round access to tutoring services, career counseling, assistance with internship and job search skills, and access to the Scuba Zone, a quiet study space where students can work with tutors.

• You created meaningful opportunities for real-world learning. You made it possible for 55 students to participate in Teach for America; for Ambassadors for Conservation students to participate in intensive field studies and then share their research with the local community; and for students to produce social documentaries and service-oriented videos for non-profit organizations through the award-winning Canisius College Video Institute. Your support also made it possible for 1,362 students to perform community service and for 56 students to participate in a domestic or international service-immersion experience through the Office of Campus Ministry.

034.1920 DEVEL_Impact Report_BRO.indd 5

8/1/19 11:45 AM

You gave Msaada Nankumba ’19 a Canisius education and a bright future Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a time of civil war and political instability, Msaada Nankumba ’19 witnessed atrocities that led his family to flee to a Kenyan refugee camp with nearly 180,000 other refugees. There, Msaada and his family experienced hardships, too—lack of food and water, poor sanitation and healthcare, and overcrowding.

Although he had access to an education at the camp, the school lacked resources and teachers. Msaada would often miss school to help his family find food and water. Even when he could attend, he was hungry and it was hard to focus. But things changed when he and his family relocated to the United States in 2014 and made a new home for themselves in Buffalo.

Msaada enrolled in Lafayette High School, where he studied tirelessly and adjusted to life in his new city. In 2015 he graduated third in his high school class. Being the first in his family to attend college, Msaada was confused by the college search process, until one of his teachers suggested he visit Canisius College. From that moment, Msaada’s success truly took off. Attending Canisius meant he could stay close to his family while studying biology and pre-medicine to pursue his dream of becoming a physician. In the fall of 2015, he enrolled as a freshman.

The Canisius community rallied around Msaada. Faculty and staff gave him the resources to grow his skills in communication, creativity, critical thinking and leadership. Earning a spot in the prestigious All-College Honors program, he focused on a life of scholarship, service and social justice. He also immersed himself in academic research, did volunteer work and became active in several student clubs. He did all of this while working two jobs to support his family.

Last May, four years after first setting foot on the Canisius quad, Msaada became one of the hundreds of Griffins who walked across the stage at commencement. The college graduate is continuing his education through the Wehle MBA program at Canisius, and has already achieved early acceptance into the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Science.

Msaada is ready to make the world a better place, and because of Canisius, he knows he can. He wants to create economic opportunities and promote social justice in healthcare, which is a true reflection of the Jesuit mission of Canisius College.

Msaada Nankumba’s story of resilience and success could not have been written without the generous support of donors like you.

034.1920 DEVEL_Impact Report_BRO.indd 6

8/1/19 11:45 AM

“ I believe in the power of paying back. I’ve been blessed and take nothing for granted. We are all part of the human story…the idea of giving back and helping others is how we sustain and preserve the things that we love and care for most. This is the heart of our Canisius Family.”

– Msaada Nankumba ’19

034.1920 DEVEL_Impact Report_BRO.indd 7

8/1/19 11:45 AM

2018-19 CANISIUS FUND BY THE NUMBERS Because of your support, the Canisius Fund reached new heights, securing $1,175,069.14 from 2,966 donors during the 2018-19 campaign. And because of the collective power of so many, this vital resource has grown by nearly 7% over the last two years, providing even more resources for our students.

$1,175,069.14

IN SUPPORT (an increase of $52,324.00 over FY18)

2,966

DONORS 2,505 alumni, 212 young alumni (donors who graduated less than 10 years ago), 175 new donors, 1,496 loyal donors (donors who have given 3+ years), 338 Leadership Society members (gifts of $1,000+).

OF THOSE 2,966 DONORS , 2,182 M ADE A GIF T BET WEEN $1 AND $100, WHICH TOTALED

$168,127.04 PROOF THAT GIF TS OF ALL SIZES C AN ADD UP TO M AKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

35

C ANISIUS FUND STUDENT C ALLERS M ADE

118,468

PHONE C ALL S TO ALUMNI, PARENTS AND FRIENDS

$831,399.38

WA S THE A MOUNT R AISED IN LE ADERSHIP GIF TS ($1,000 OR MORE) FOR THE C ANISIUS FUND

034.1920 DEVEL_Impact Report_BRO.indd 8

25%

OF C ANISIUS FUND DOLL ARS SUPPORTED STUDENT SERVICES AND PROGR A MS

32%

OF C ANISIUS FUND DOLL ARS SUPPORTED OUR FINANCIAL AID PROGR A M

43%

OF C ANISIUS FUND DOLL ARS SUPPORTED EDUC ATION INSTRUC TION AND AC ADEMIC SUPPORT

8/1/19 11:45 AM

D

D

034.1920 DEVEL_Impact Report_BRO.indd 9

8/1/19 11:45 AM

They may never have the chance to meet you, but they will always remember the opportunities your generosity made possible.

034.1920 DEVEL_Impact Report_BRO.indd 2

2018-19 Canisius Fund

8/1/19 11:45 AM