Giving Stories Archive | Giving to Cornell

Alumnus hopes historical lessons boost civic engagement

As a young immigrant who narrowly avoided being sent to Auschwitz by fleeing Nazi-occupied Belgium and Vichy France for New York City, Fred Rubinstein ’52, LLB ’55, knows very well what America – at its best – can offer. “The opportunities available, the ease with which I went from French-speaking immigrant to graduate and practicing … Read the full story

By Ciara Cable May 14, 2026

Cornellians blaze new trails on 12th Giving Day with record number of champions

Donors from around the world helped Cornell University break multiple records on its 12th annual Giving Day, March 12, 2026. In 24 hours, this year’s nature-themed event brought together 17,011 donors to raise $11,345,462, to support everything from student organizations to scholarship aid to groundbreaking research. “Cornellians everywhere joined together to make our 12th Giving … Read the full story

By Jennifer Wholey March 16, 2026

Goldman Sachs partner Isaac Wong ’00 knows the value of investing in Cornell

When Isaac Wong ’00 was a high school senior considering college options, he came across some research on Wi-Fi networks by a Cornell faculty member. In 1995, the ability to project a wireless signal over 50 feet without a cable was breakthrough technology, and it captured Isaac’s imagination. This faculty research catapulted Cornell’s College of … Read the full story

By Linda Copman July 18, 2025

Cornell research drives business success, says nation’s largest private food importer

Over the past 80 years, George Gellert ’60, MBA ’62, JD ’63 has grown a family farm into an international food empire. Gellert Global Group (GGG) is a global food importer that supplies more than 5,500 unique food items sourced from 60+ countries worldwide. GGG’s Atalanta Corporation is the leading private food importer in the U.S. George … Read the full story

By Linda Copman June 25, 2025

Shelly Cerio ’92 makes the path to Cornell even wider

Shelly Cerio ’92 established a $1.5 million endowment that funds partial scholarships for multiple students at the ILR School each year.

By Kaitlyn Danielle Ruhf May 8, 2025

New gift funds innovation at Bronfenbrenner Center

The $2 million gift from Rebecca “Becky” Quinn Morgan ’60 and her husband, James C. Morgan ’60, MBA ’63, will endow a fund that supports early-stage research projects that meaningfully engage communities.

By AAD Staff April 23, 2025

Sina Toussi ’91: Honoring professors and transforming lives

Sina Toussi ’91 established an undergraduate scholarship in honor of Professors Allen Wood and David Lyons. The gift contributes to Cornell’s Undergraduate Affordability Initiative.

By Kaitlyn Danielle Ruhf April 15, 2025

For Bixby Piccolo Hill ’27, ‘It was always Cornell’

Growing up, Bixby Piccolo Hill ’27 and his three siblings spent a lot of time playing together as a family. He explains that in their TV-free household, the siblings liked to make up imaginary scenarios and play act. When Bixby was in elementary school, his older sister, Parker Piccolo Hill ’25, performed in her middle … Read the full story

By Linda Copman April 10, 2025

Katherine DeRose ’26 finds the perfect fit at Cornell

Were it not for a teachers’ strike that happened decades before she was born, Connecticut native Katherine (Katie) DeRose ’26 might not have thought about applying to Cornell. During her junior year of high school, Katie did a capstone research project on the Bridgeport teachers’ protest of 1978. Teachers there went on strike to protest … Read the full story

By Linda Copman April 2, 2025

Record matches and challenges mark an (inter)stellar Giving Day

For 24 hours, donors rallied together to help Cornell University reach for the stars on its eleventh Giving Day, March 13, 2025. This year’s space-themed event raised $11,206,717 from 17,591 donors, for a total of 25,929 gifts making a tangible show of support for causes across the university. “Cornellians everywhere demonstrated their continued commitment to … Read the full story

By Jennifer Wholey March 17, 2025

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