PHILANTHROPY MATTERS FOR AT UMASS DARTMOUTH,
CREATING A CULTURE OF GRATITUDE
PHILANTHROPY MATTERS
Robert Hale’s gift to the Class of 2024 inspired a wave of generosity as graduates turned inspiration into action
New highs, discoveries, and opportunities filled 2024. In the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, we saw significant rises in three of our largest majors: computer science, psychology, and nursing. These prestigious rankings of programs in high-demand fields show that UMass Dartmouth is preparing students well for impactful careers in industries that meet important societal and economic needs in our region and nationally. I am delighted to share that UMass Dartmouth will offer free tuition and mandatory fees to in-state undergraduates with a family income of $75,000 or less starting in Fall 2025. We did this to make it clear to students with high financial need that a UMass Dartmouth education is affordable. Simply put, they can get a world-class education at a nationally ranked public research university for free. That’s powerful and will matter a great deal to the nearly 1,500 current and incoming students we expect to qualify for the program. Over the past year, we also saw great acts of generosity that helped us fulfill our mission. The Greater Fall River Development Corporation donated $1M, which was matched by $500,000 from the UMass Foundation, to support students from the Greater Fall River area as they pursue their academic and professional ambitions at UMass Dartmouth. During Blue & Gold Weekend, we celebrated the Alumni Association’s endowment reaching $1M. At the Commencement ceremony, billionaire philanthropist Rob Hale gave each attending undergraduate $1,000—$500 to keep and $500 to give to a cause that matters to them, resulting in countless stories of generosity by graduates. These are just a few instances of our momentum attracting meaningful philanthropy to UMass Dartmouth, with donors confident that their contributions are having an enormous impact on our students and helping to make their future brighter. Their philanthropy truly matters. And, of course, thanks to your generous support, we are upgrading campus learning spaces, offering more support services to help our students, and strengthening the foundation to launch them into success. Your generosity is crucial to supporting a thriving academic environment and helping students achieve their dreams.
A surprise awaited the Class of 2024 on a rainy Commencement day—a thousand-dollar ray of sunshine from philanthropist and founder and CEO of wholesale telecommunications provider Granite Telecommunications, Robert Hale, Jr., and his wife, Karen. But there was a catch: they had to pay it forward.
Joe Cozzolino ’87
Each graduate who crossed the stage received one envelope with $500 to keep as a gift and a second envelope of $500 to give to a charity or cause close to their heart. They embraced Hale’s philanthropic challenge with responses to his call that reflected their personal values, donating to local nonprofit organizations or repaying family members for their support.
PHILANTHROPY MATTERS FOR CREATING AN EXTRAORDINARY STUDENT EXPERIENCE A generous community of donors expands horizons for Corsairs with their support of student organizations Being involved in student organizations fosters a sense of belonging, collaboration, and shared connections that endure long after students leave campus. Thanks to an outpouring of support from donors during giving days and crowdfunding initiatives, student organizations like Corsair Esports, the National Society of Black Engineers, Corsair Cheer, and the Black Law Students Association were able to offer pivotal experiences to its members. These groups reached remarkable levels of success, achieving goals that ranged from attending international professional development conferences, to expanding student memberships to participate, to acquiring necessary equipment.
PHILANTHROPY MATTERS FOR ESTABLISHING A LEGACY Joe Cozzolino ’87 established enduring support of his alma mater Cozzolino’s bond with UMass Dartmouth not only shaped his past but continues to inspire his dedication to giving back. His philanthropy over the years has been instrumental in propelling the university’s mission forward, providing critical support to turn students’ dreams into diplomas.
Thank you for supporting UMass Dartmouth’s mission and making a lasting impact on the lives of our students. I left the Northeast Black Law Students Association Convention with an internship opportunity at a prosecutor’s office in New Jersey, and then offered a job upon graduation. Attending this convention made me certain I want to be a litigator.”
Mark A. Fuller, PhD Chancellor
I was very fortunate to be able to set aside extra funds just for donating to causes close to my heart. All the money that I give is going toward scholarship funds, directly benefitting UMass Dartmouth students.”
Tiffany Igwe, JD ’24 President, Black Law Students Association
Starting your career off by donating to a special cause is really powerful and teaches us all a lesson about the value of generosity.” Amanda Little ’24 A grateful graduate
Committed to helping students cross that stage at Commencement, Cozzolino established a donor-advised fund, a charitable savings account set up through a charity or financial services firm that allows flexibility to recommend how much and when to grant money to UMass Dartmouth and other qualified charities. He also instituted a succession plan for his fund— an essential and often overlooked step that ensures UMass Dartmouth remains a philanthropic priority even after his passing. For more information on donor-advised funds or other gift planning strategies, please contact us at gift.planning@umassd.edu.