SUNY Canton Marks High Point in #GivingTuesday Fundraising Campaign

Drawing on the support of alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends, the SUNY Canton College Foundation exceeded its fundraising goal by $20,000 during its 2024 #GivingTuesday campaign.

Approximately 200 donors contributed more than $60,000 to the campaign, spreading their generosity over more than 52 funds and initiatives. Several matching gift opportunities, including a $5,000 match for the Early Childhood Program and a $1,000 match for gifts from college employees, helped propel this year’s campaign to a new high.

The campaign represented a nearly 36% increase in donations from the 2023 Giving Tuesday total of about $38,000. Foundation staff members indicated social media outreach made by the college’s faculty, staff and students contributed to the campaign’s success.

“The result of this campaign speaks to the generosity of our community,” said Geoffrey C.S. VanderWoude, Senior Director of Development. “The Advancement team would like to thank all of the generous donors who helped make Giving Tuesday a success, and we could not have done it without you.”

Giving Tuesday is designed as a philanthropic movement empowering individuals and organizations to transform their communities and the world. The Foundation has participated in the campaign to support SUNY Canton students, raising funds for scholarships, academics, athletics, and critical resources, including the Student Emergency Fund. This year, the Advancement team focused on highlighting new and unusual ways donors can make an impact at the college.

“We wanted to show our community the many ways they can make a real and immediate impact on students,” said Assistant Director of Development Sara Hartman-Richards. “We highlighted new initiatives, such as the Woodside Scholars Capstone Fund which provides support to students completing their senior projects. Here, a gift of $50 or $100 can underwrite a student project, helping them to get hands-on experience before starting their career.”

This latest campaign comes shortly after two other significant efforts conducted by the Canton College Foundation, including a campaign to raise the funding necessary to name the college’s ice rink for former men’s hockey coach Terry L. Martin and a ceremony celebrating the founder of the college’s Nursing Program Virginia M. McAllister.

The Giving Tuesday campaign is part of a year-long effort to support ongoing student and college needs. If you’d like to make a gift, please visit the College Foundation website or call the Foundation team at 315-386-7127.