Ice Cream with a Side of Philanthropy

On Thursday, September 19, the Isenberg Senior Gift Committee held its inaugural Take a Bite Out of Tuition event. More than 175 students attended to learn about how philanthropy is paramount to making an Isenberg education affordable and accessible, all while enjoying ice cream sundaes from Ice Cream Emergency. Dean Anne Massey and Isenberg alum Paul Carney ’82 also stopped by.

To provide students with the best educational experience, funding is required above and beyond state and tuition dollars. The state contributes only about 20 percent of the UMass operating budget, while about 80 percent comes from non-state sources such as philanthropy. The event was an opportunity to recognize that in addition to students’ personal investments, they also benefit from the generosity of our Isenberg alumni and donors.

“It was a fun event, but it was also a great reminder of how Isenberg community efforts can make a real difference in students’ lives,” said Senior Gift Committee Co-Presidents Thomas Beck ’25 and Shane DeRubeis ’25. “This event made it easy to get students involved and informed, and we were very happy with the large student turnout!”

One of Isenberg’s hallmarks is its ability to offer a world-class business education while remaining affordable and accessible, and a big reason that this is possible is because of philanthropy from students, alumni, and other individuals. In fact, 38 percent of last year’s donors to Isenberg were students. This support has enhanced the Isenberg experience for current and future students by funding scholarships and innovative building improvements such as the stock tickers and the Iris Booth for headshots.

“We were really happy to see how many students are interested in learning more about philanthropy and giving back to their Isenberg community,” said Beck and DeRubeis. “We hope that this event continues for years to come!”