Donor Stories
Columbia alumni and friends are making more possible through Gift Planning.
See how Columbians are paving the way for future students, faculty, and pivotal projects.
Every day, Columbia University and its alumni community are expanding the boundaries of what’s possible—in the boardroom, courtroom, operating room, newsroom, classroom, and beyond. One driving force behind these advances: the alumni and friends who make more possible today and every day through Planned Giving.
"This is one of the benefits of planning for your own future; I thought I might need the annuity in retirement, but it turns out that I don’t—and I feel very strongly about ‘paying it forward’ to Columbia.”
“The whole idea of helping the 1754 Society grow is a natural fit for me because the University is in my future plans.”
“The thread throughout my life has been the desire to help people, especially to help women deal with trauma and live healthier lives. Columbia enabled me to be able to do this professionally. I feel so blessed to have had a Columbia education and to now be able to give back.”
“It’s so important to show your gratitude, to help make more possible for the next generation and to continue to break down barriers. For these reasons, giving back was easy for me to do.”
“It’s that simple to impact someone’s whole life for the better.”
“It is so rewarding to be able to use what I learned at Columbia to improve the health care of underserved populations—including members of my own extended family. Columbia has done much for me. In return, I want to do much for Columbia and for the next generation of Columbians so that their impact can go even further.”
“The most important cause I believe in is trying to ensure that journalism as a profession survives and that there are practitioners who believe in the code of ethics I was brought up to believe in—and that is what Columbia teaches and produces.”
“I want to inspire other people, and I want to help them financially. And I am glad to do it at the university where I got my start.”
"I think it is important to give back to Columbia and to those who require financial assistance—to help provide them with an education they will benefit from throughout their life."
“My volunteer work elevated my thinking about what I owed back and wanted to do for Columbia.”
“For me education has always been the great equalizer. Young people are our future, and they need our help to go to college. I hope that other alumni feel the same about giving back. Just look at what Columbia did for us!”
“I know the value of an interdisciplinary approach to science, and I believe supporting Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute is a great investment. It is the future.”
“The entire University seemed wide open intellectually, and I found that very attractive.”
“I just loved school and particularly loved Columbia. Now I want to reciprocate.”
“The outstanding education I got at Columbia Business School was instrumental to my very fulfilling career.”
"Seeing what my gift means to the students has been one of the highlights of my life."
"When you make a charitable gift, start with your most appreciated securities."
"Columbia prepared me with a great education, and now I feel blessed to be able to give back."
"At some point in your life, you have to take what you've built up and share it in meaningful ways."
"Columbia taught me what quality education is all about."
"A commitment to fighting for diversity in the media has been central to my life and career."
"If we commit our lives to making things better, even just a little, we can change the world."
When Jeff Franklin '68SEAS was accepted to Columbia with a full-tuition scholarship, the economical choice would have been to commute from his childhood home in Brooklyn.
When Stephen Buchman '59CC, '62LAW thinks about the major pivot points in his life, attending Columbia College tops the list.
Milagro Ruiz remembers standing on the steps of Low Library for the first time, looking out at the campus she was about to call home.
The year was 1990. Four decades had passed since Jerry Chazen graduated from Columbia Business School, and he never did spend much time looking back.
Keville Frederickson Tomasson '64NRS, '74TC transferred to Columbia from Illinois midway through her nursing program.
When Al Bagnoli was named Columbia's head football coach in the spring of 2015, many considered it a coup.
For brothers Kamel, Emil, and Bill Bahary, Columbia University is more than just their alma mater.
Barbara Campagna '86GSAPP has spent the last three decades preserving historic structures for the benefit of future generations.
Eleanor Applewhaite is planning now to make more possible through charitable gift annuities (CGAs) for Columbia Law School.
Frank Rinaldi is planning now to make more possible through a bequest to the Columbia University sailing program.
Alex Li is planning now to make more possible for students through a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT).
Doctors Jane Salmon and Jerry Gliklich are planning now to make more possible through bequests funding scholarships for Columbia University medical students.
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