UMass Sesquicentennial

For more information:

Michael A. Leto
Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations and Executive Director, UMass Amherst Foundation
413-545-4200

Sharon Kubin
Executive Associate to the Vice Chancellor
413-545-5482

Celebrating our Donors

Why We Give

My giving makes me feel part of the UMass Amherst community.

An English teacher for 34 years, Brian Ward endorsed the campus by making annual gifts, starting when his son was a freshman.

“My giving makes me feel part of the UMass Amherst community.”

Brian Ward, father of Alexander ’07 and Christopher ’10


  • My athletic scholarship helped me focus on my biggest commitments: my education and track and field.
  • Jack Welch’s generosity and assistance in helping me receive an education will never be forgotten.
  • I’m the first in my family to attend college. This is an honor and I am truly thankful.
  • UMass Amherst gave me the opportunity to create my own life on my own terms. I never could have gone here without scholarships.
  • Public universities have tougher fundraising tasks because people think the state covers the bill. But private philanthropy is what maintains a world-class university.
  • Philanthropy makes the difference between good and excellent: exceptional students, outstanding faculty, and cutting-edge research.
  • The quality of the faculty and students at UMass Amherst and the range of education and research are so very powerful.
  • We now have a championship-caliber facility, giving us the opportunity to host NCAA events. The seats are really the finishing touch and make ours one of the most attractive fields in New England.
  • The funds raised will contribute to the success of the team and the individual students on it, and that's meaningful for former athletes and alums.
  • Giving a donation to the Senior Campaign allows a student to leave a simple yet lasting impression on the university.
  • I donated to the Senior Campaign because it is the best way to show my appreciation for the previous senior classes and to fulfill my responsibilities to future classes. I received so much in my four years here, and now it is my turn to give back.
  • I am donating to the Senior Campaign because I know my gift will help to create remarkable opportunities for future students.
  • Giving to the Senior Campaign means other students will have the opportunity to find what they are passionate about. It is my chance to give back to a school that has given me so much.
  • We value the education Casey is receiving and couldn't ask for more. For this reason, we believe it important, regardless of whether you live in-state or out of state, to support the value of our children's education through the Parents Fund.
  • College is such a unique experience. We hope all our son's memories of those years will be positive. Our goal is to help ensure just such an experience.
  • My giving makes me feel part of the UMass Amherst community.
  • I thought about the value of my UMass Amherst education, the influence it had on my life, and the possibilities it created for me. Once you do that kind of analysis, you find a way of giving back to the place that got you started.
  • My husband and I liked the idea of an annuity giving us a guaranteed return for the rest of our lives, with what's left going to where we designate. It's planting the seed to help educational programs grow.
  • If you have an appreciation for the band or anything else at UMass Amherst, it deserves your support. It's a world-class institution.
  • The years I spent at UMass Amherst were incredibly important to my subsequent development. Now I am doing what I can to repay UMass for all that it did for me.
  • I come from a family that has always felt obligated to show appreciation for what we've been given and to give back. My MBA from UMass Amherst was a galvanizing force—it enabled me to totally change the course of my life.
  • The band gave me a focal point; it became my little village. Everything I did at UMass emanated from that.
  • The library is the soul of the campus, enabling students and professors in every school and college to reach their full potential.
  • Earn, learn, yearn.
  • You want to spread your knowledge and enthusiasm among friends; say what you have to say, no one else can do it quite the same.
  • I give because my experience at UMass Amherst was the defining experience in my life and shaped my whole career. A dollar given to UMass Amherst has a bigger impact than at other schools. Investing in the future of the students here has a big payback.
  • It is a misconception that state funds foot the bill. It's imperative to build the endowment, and we have a long way to go.
  • We're invested in educating tomorrow's leaders in hospitality, tourism, and management.
  • We want to find kids who have done well and for whom the scholarship will really make the difference. This has been a most rewarding experience for both of us.
  • Scott loved UMass Amherst and had great mentors here where his entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured. The fund will let students identify and grow their talents, and realize their dreams of careers in broadcasting.
  • I really value the education I got at UMass and at the business school in particular. My goal as an alumnus has been to give back.
  • I like working with Acushnet because it's a good Massachusetts company. The funding helps me to support several graduate students.