The Big Give 2021

On March 24 through 25, alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the university virtually came together to support current and future students for New York Tech’s third annual Big Give. In the end, this year’s donations brought in 741 gifts from 686 donors, totaling $340,277, exceeding last year’s total by nearly $40,000.

In commemoration of the institution’s founding in 1955, the Big Give lasts only 1,955 minutes (about 33 hours), and shows that when the New York Tech community comes together, its impact is great. “I believe our generous alumni, faculty, and staff see themselves in our students and understand the importance of helping them reach their full potential,” said Patrick Minson, M.B.A., M.P.A., vice president for development and alumni relations.

Alumnus and member of the New York Tech Board of Trustees Daniel Ferrara (D.O. ’86) issued a $25,000 challenge ahead of the Big Give: he would match the first 25 gifts of $1,000 or more to NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. The college ended up maximizing Ferrara’s pledge. Colleges and schools encouraged their donors with additional challenges totaling $15,000.

Student donors sought areas where they could make the biggest difference. Among dozens of gifts to the Student Emergency Fund, gifts from student-funded and student-run organizations provided a major boost. For the Big Give, leaders of the Student Government Associations (SGA) and Graduate Student Associations (GSA) on both the Long Island and New York City campuses donated a total of $88,500 from their operating budgets to the Student Emergency Fund, which seeks to assist students who have been impacted financially by unforeseen circumstances during a disaster/crisis.

“We hope that this donation goes to the students who need it the most and gets them what they need to get through this difficult time, because we are all in this together,” said New York City presidents Ismael José (SGA) and Chintain Manish Popat (GSA) in a statement of their organizations’ $68,500 donation. Long Island student leaders also emphasized their hope that their donations totaling $20,000 will allow students to focus on academics.

Focusing on academics is not easy for students facing financial stress. “Ninety-eight percent of our students receive some form of financial aid, and many rely on part-time jobs,” said Minson. “Financial support during this difficult period helps bridge the gap between what our students need and what they have.”