BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Inspired by the return of a $50,000 “Match Challenge,” Raritan Valley Community College had a record-setting “Giving Day” on March 23 and raised $163,830 for student clubs and athletic teams, as well as a range of centers, institutes and critical institutional programs.
The RVCC Giving Day 2023 fundraising total was 21% greater than last year’s record tally.
RVCC students led the charge raising a total of $30,500, a whopping 36% increase in funds raised over last year’s effort. Twenty-nine clubs and athletic teams participated in RVCC Giving Day 2023, a 21% increase over 2022.
“It is so heartening to see the community—especially the students—respond so positively to the match challenge,” said Frank Russo, who, along with his wife Patricia, are the benefactors behind the “Match Challenge.” This is the second year the Russos have provided the match, which was clearly a difference-maker again this year. “We were confident the broader RVCC community would rise to the challenge and we’re so pleased with the results.” The longtime Far Hills residents also support the Frank S. and Patricia F. Russo Scholarship at RVCC, which is now in its fifth year.
“We are grateful for how the Russos have inspired our community through their generosity,” said Michael J. McDonough, President, Raritan Valley Community College. “We could not be more honored by their support.”
Allan Boomer, Chair of the RVCC Foundation Board of Directors, said, “Having the match challenge provided again by the Russos was a gamechanger. Their generosity fueled this incredibly successful campaign, and we’re deeply grateful.”
This year’s winners of the “Patrick J. Fittipaldi Impact Award”—which celebrates student success in support of RVCC Giving Day—went to the RVCC Men’s Basketball team for most dollars raised ($7,216) and the Open Mic Club for attracting the most donors (64). Both groups receive $1,000 awards from the RVCC Foundation for their efforts.
“The match challenge made Giving Day super exciting,” said Damian Juth, president of the Open Mic Club. “Knowing that every dollar we raised would be rewarded just elevated everyone’s game!”
In addition to student clubs and athletic teams, this year’s RVCC Giving Day campaign featured nine areas of interest for donors, including the RVCC Resource Center and Food Pantry, the Servicing Learning Program, Honors College, the Workforce Training Center, and the Planetarium.
“Thanks to the generosity and leadership of Frank and Pat Russo, we’ve again reached heights that were previously unimaginable for Giving Day,” said Mike Marion, Executive Director of the RVCC Foundation. “The word ‘epic’ gets tossed around a lot, but there isn’t a more apt way to describe the generosity of the Russos.”
The RVCC Foundation is the fundraising arm of Raritan Valley Community College. It provides the resources that enable the College to enhance its programs beyond public and tuition sources and to maintain its standing as a premier academic institution and one of the most important sources of culture and continuing education in Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
For information about ways to support the College and the work of the RVCC Foundation, contact Mike Marion at 908-648-8567, email michael.marion@raritanval.edu, or visit rvccfoundation.org.
