Syracuse announces second-largest donation in university history in celebration on Quad
Syracuse University announced its second largest donation in university history Friday – $20 million that will go towards a new scholarship program for middle-class students.
The Louise and Howard Phanstiel Scholar Program will be administered fall 2011 to middle-class students with U.S. citizenship who have demonstrated potential for academic success and community leadership.
‘Today is a day we’ll never forget,’ Howard ‘Howie’ Phanstiel said.
The donation was announced on the Quad during an event titled ‘Project P.’ A drumroll by the SU marching band built up to the announcement of the specific dollar amount of the donation, with nine University 100 members each standing up with a cardboard square to say ‘$20,000,000.’
Before addressing the audience, the Phanstiel’s received letterman’s jackets. Howie spoke of the things that have changed at SU since he graduated in 1970. He also mentioned the number of times he has spoken at university functions, but said it was not quite as easy with he and his wife as the center of attention.
A barbecue followed the announcement, and the SU marching band played throughout the celebration. Students and others attending the packed event waved flags and held large cut-outs of the Phanstiel’s heads, reminiscent of those held during last year’s Syracuse men’s basketball season.
‘Our goal is to continue to create opportunities for others to have the same learning and college experience that we all have shared at this wonderful institution,’ Howie Phanstiel said.
The scholarship is an opportunity for middle-class students who are sometimes looked over during the financial aid process and, like other socioeconomic groups, were affected by the recession. Youlanda Copeland-Morgan, associate vice president of enrollment management and director of scholarships and student aid, said disparity among middle-class families is dependent on their financial situation.
‘You could have a $125,000 income, but that $125,000 has to be used differently when you come from a family of six where there’s four kids versus a family of three where there’s one child,’ Copeland-Morgan said.
The national median income for middle-class is around $56,000, but the scholarship will include students whose family income is upward to $175,000, Copeland-Morgan said.
Copeland-Morgan said not all scholarship qualification details are available at this time, but the university is aiming to finalize the scholarship details by the spring. She said the university was also unsure how many students the program would be able to assist, but there would be a focus on incoming students.
Students who receive the scholarship will be required to participate in SU’s financial literacy program ‘I Otto Know This!’ and attend an annual lecture promoting altruism in the community, as well as submit a one-page personal statement on their philanthropic efforts of the previous year.
Keeping students involved in the community and teaching them financial responsibility were elements the Phanstiels wanted to include in the program. Louise Phanstiel said financial and community responsibility would affect students past their years at SU.
Howie Phanstiel is a graduate of The College of Arts and Sciences with adegree in political science. In 1971, he received a Masters of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Since 2005, he has served on the Maxwell School Advisory Board. He also serves on SU’s Board of Trustees and has been one of three co-chairs for the Campaign for Syracuse University since 2007.
The Phanstiels have previously donated to SU. They established the Phanstiel Chair in Strategic Management and Leadership in Maxwell with a gift of $5 million in 2006 and donated $1.2 million to help finance the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. Howie led 2008’s mid-year fundraising effort, ‘Syracuse Responds,’ providing more than $1 million to more than 425 students at risk of withdrawing because of financial difficulties.
It was Louise who approached her husband about making a scholarship donation. She said the couple feels inspired to continuously give after being blessed with opportunities.
‘It gives us joy,’ she said. ‘It’s not giving for the sake of giving – it’s giving to make a difference and finding the right things that are consistent with our philosophy and how we look at life and that we can do the most with what we have.’
Published on September 30, 2010 at 12:00 pm
