When Yvonne Spicer ’84 M’85 challenged Graduates Of the Last Decade (GOLD) to "Give to What They Love about Oswego" during the month of February, they responded in true Laker fashion.

If 200 GOLD alumni made a gift, Spicer said she would donate $30,000 to SUNY Oswego. A total of 306 GOLD alumni made a gift during the month-long challenge, unlocking the $30,000 gift and bringing in an additional $6,466.

“The Give to What You Love Challenge created a meaningful opportunity for our telefund callers to connect with GOLD alumni in a more personal way,” Annual Giving Director Barbie Fike said. “The challenge not only encouraged philanthropy, but also strengthened the connection between current students and alumni through shared Laker pride.”

Only minutes after the first email announcing the challenge was sent on Feb. 1, Phi Lambda Phi sister Astrid Roe '18, an attorney and legal and policy associate at Intellectual Property Owners Association in Washington, D.C., made the first gift, directing her support to the Greek Life Fund.

The Greek Life Fund was one of 65 different campus designations that were supported throughout the month.

The Class of 2024 came in strong, with 47 members making a gift during the challenge, the most of any single class in the challenge.

Even alumni not included in the GOLD challenge shared their excitement.

“Rock on, Yvonne!” said Jennifer Shropshire ’86, a member of the Oswego University Foundation Board of Directors, on a Facebook post. “You’re the best!”

Jill Lacey Griffin ’86 M’88 also commented on Facebook: “Thank you, Yvonne! I’ll do my part.”

"I am thrilled that we exceeded our goal by 50 percent!" Spicer said. "A heartfelt thank you to all the GOLD alumni who continue to give back to the university that has given us so much.

"It is my hope that, as alumni, we will continue to share our time, talent and treasure to help build the next generation of leaders in our beloved Laker community," she said. "I chose to direct my gift toward supporting students from New York City pursuing degrees in STEM fields. As a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., I have had the privilege of a more than 40-year career in technology, and I am honored to help pass the baton to the next generation of innovators."

-- Submitted by University Advancement