TCNJ

32 The College of New Jersey Magazine TCNJ seeks to Elevate Excellence through comprehensive fundraising campaign. THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY publicly launched The Campaign for TCNJ: Elevating Excellence in April. With a goal of raising $76 million, the campaign — the second in TCNJ's history — has already reached more than half its target amount. A combination of endowed and annual giving will support the campaign's four priorities: access and afford- ability, academic enrichment, the student experience, and capital projects (page 35). "Now is our time," says TCNJ President Michael A. Bernstein. "We are well-positioned to launch a successful fundraising campaign. This is about our students and the way in which philanthropy enriches their education and shapes their future." For students like Lynne Abraham '26, the campaign's focus is deeply personal. "Financial support isn't really just about covering costs, it's about creating access," she says. "It's about giving us the freedom to say 'yes' to opportunities that shape our futures." Without the burden of how to pay for college, Abraham, whose Cooperman Scholarship was created during TCNJ's first campaign, was able to delve into research opportuni- ties from the start of her undergraduate career. "TCNJ was an environment that didn't just support me, but pushed me to explore," says Abraham. "I wasn't just observing. I was actively contributing, asking questions, and really growing as a scholar." Those experiences helped her to land her next academic step: a post-baccalaureate research fellowship at Harvard Medical School, where she plans to pursue a career in neuroscience. "Higher education is the engine of innovation," says R. Barbara Gitenstein, TCNJ president emerita. "We have to remain committed to that." Gitenstein and her husband, Donald Hart, were among the early supporters of the campaign, giving $4 million. Three million of that will be used to support undergraduate research, a passion the couple shares (page 33). WHILE THE CAMPAIGN will run through June 2028, its impact will be seen more immediately. For example, one of the campaign's capital priorities, raising $2 million to fund the construction of an annex to the Music Building, has already been accomplished (page 34). The project is funded entirely through philanthropy with key gifts from Herbert Mayo, President Bernstein, the Alumni Association, and The Presser Foundation. The annex will serve as a permanent rehearsal hall for our student ensembles. The college expects to break ground this year, with music filling the hall at the start of the fall 2027 semester. LEADING THE CAMPAIGN EFFORTS are three proud alumni: Christine Berk '89, Elaine Rocha '95, and Gloria Weissbart '78. "This college has meant so much to each of us," says Berk. "With the support of our dedicated staff and volunteers, we look forward to helping 'Elevating Excellence' achieve all its goals." The campaign's strong start reflects a growing culture of philanthropy at TCNJ. "It's worth noting that we've already exceeded our previous campaign's $40 million goal," says Weissbart. "This is a testament to the culture that the first campaign helped create." That foundation of giving was built through years of outreach and engagement across the TCNJ community, says Rocha. "What we heard was deeply encouraging: People believe in TCNJ and its mission and stand ready to support this campaign." — Emily W. Dodd L to R: Campaign co-chairs Christine Berk '89, Elaine Rocha '95, and Gloria Weissbart '78

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