Together, We Will Be Mighty: Inside ESF's $40 Million Campaign

Cover

Together, We Will Be Mighty: Inside ESF's $40 Million Campaign

- Karen B. Moore

With a vision for the future and gratitude for its supporters, ESF College Foundation officially launched the most ambitious fundraising initiative in the College’s history. Announced at a celebration held at Palladian Hall in Syracuse, the campaign seeks to raise $40 million — double the goal of the College’s last capital campaign — and has already secured $35 million in commitments.

The campaign launch event featured interactive displays of several ESF outreach, research, and academic programs. Attendees
had the opportunity to interact with ESF experts to learn about their work and the impact of donor support.

Featured topics included the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project, the Bee Lab, the Timbuctoo Institute, the Landscape Visualization Lab, the Roosevelt Wild Life Station, and the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment (CNPE). Researchers were on hand to share their work, and each table featured a themed giveaway item.

At one display, Associate Professor Aidan Ackerman immersed attendees in a virtual forest using a VR headset. This technology, developed by the Landscape Visualization Lab, was used in projects such as the Flight 93 National Memorial to simulate 1600 trees growing over 25 years, and the Statue of Liberty National Memorial to recreate the site over six historic periods.

Pollinator ecologist Molly Jacobson ’21 shared the Bee Lab’s work to protect native pollinators.

“I enjoy being able to introduce others to the diversity and beauty of native pollinators, the conservation threats they face, and what tangible steps are being taken to safeguard their populations, through the many projects our lab is conducting,” said Jacobson.

 

Jacobson takes pride in ESF’s solid presence in this important and relevant field of research that will be able to continue with support. “Philanthropic support is essential to being able to continue and expand this vital work,” she said.

For Paul Hai ’00, director of the Timbuctoo Institute, the campaign supports not only high school students in the program but also ESF students who work there. Timbuctoo focuses on providing opportunities for high school students from systemically  marginalized communities to learn about climate science, and the intersections of environmental and social justice while exploring academic and professional careers in these disciplines

“Through the Foundation’s support, we created a part-time social media position,” Hai said. “It’s now held by an ESF undergrad passionate about media and communications as a component of their undergraduate academic program.”

The campaign centers on three priorities: expanding student access and success, transforming campus learning environments,
and advancing critical research.

These projects represent just a fraction of what the campaign can make possible with donor support.

“As we embark on this campaign, I am incredibly grateful for the network of ESF alumni, advocates, and close friends who help to ensure we can best support our students — and our faculty and staff — so they can be successful,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “Our work has never been more important. Our students have never been more valuable upon graduation. And our research has never been more needed.”

The campaign’s first goal is to engage the next generation of students and prepare them to become environmental leaders. This includes increasing access to an ESF education through expanded scholarship opportunities, pathway programs, and growing support for the Annual Fund to meet emerging needs and opportunities.

The second priority aims to elevate learning environments and student services to match the high quality of the College’s educational experience. Funds raised will help equip classrooms and labs with the tools and technology students need to thrive in their chosen professions. The campaign will also support renovations and upgrades to key campus spaces, and expand career
development programs that position students for long-term success.

The third focus of the campaign centers on advancing the College’s world-changing research. Investments will strengthen and grow hallmark research initiatives, while increasing resources for graduate students — ensuring ESF remains competitive and continues to drive environmental discovery and innovation.

Advancing critical research is central to the American Chestnut project. They’ve developed a blight-resistant chestnut and pioneering techniques that can also help protect other threatened trees, including elm, beech, and ash. These projects represent just a fraction of what the campaign can make possible with donor support.

“Donors to the ESF College Foundation have an extraordinary impact on the College’s success,” said Brenda Greenfield, Chief Advancement Officer. “I hope that everyone who supports the campaign has a sense of pride in what their investment has accomplished and what we can achieve together.”

To date, the College has raised over $15 million to support academic research programs and nearly $6 million to increase student support through scholarships and other initiatives. More than $7 million has been committed through planned gifts, with an additional $2 million in unrestricted support for the Annual Fund. Nearly $5 million in other commitments brings the campaign’s total to date to $35 million.

Speaking at the launch event, donor Andy Breuer, an ESF College Foundation board member and President of Hueber-Breuer Construction Co., Inc., said, “ESF has relevance on both a global and local scale. I know that when we support ESF, we’re investing in passionate young people who are engaged in the fight against climate change and other global environmental issues. We’re also investing in a practical, well-equipped workforce — as evidenced by the outstanding ESF graduates who work for Hueber-Breuer. By supporting ESF, we’re providing opportunities for students to take advantage of all this great institution offers — enabling them to define their personal relevance and to graduate with a transferable and practical skillset. For me, ESF represents legacy, practicality, relevance, problem solving, value and opportunity.”

The Campaign for ESF offers a range of opportunities for donors to make an impact — from establishing scholarships to naming facilities — and invites all members of the College community to participate in shaping the future of ESF.

Learn more about the campaign.

---