Alumnus

Participation matters: Alumni challenge gift made by two Panthers

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FIU alumni and students at a basketball game
FIU alumni and students joined Roary and FIU Interim President Kenneth Jessell, center, for a Greek Alumni reunion at a recent basketball game

–By Todd Ellenberg MS ’91

Panthers challenging Panthers. It’s helped encourage and inspire the pursuit of excellence at FIU over the decades. And now, a Panther couple has made a bold challenge to fellow graduates to step up and do their part for FIU.

The alumni, who have chosen to remain anonymous, made a historic $1 million challenge gift that will match 1:1 all gifts made by alumni from $50 to $25,000. The challenge will remain active until all funds have been expended.

The gift encourages all alumni to support FIU wherever they choose. With FIU’s rising national profile and recognition, the time is opportune for Panthers to give back to their alma mater. Alumni giving helps FIU in its pursuit to become a top 50 university by 2025, and the university is now poised to expand its outreach and engagement among all alumni.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our alumni to double the size and impact of their gifts – and we look forward to them answering the challenge,” said Howard Lipman, CEO of the FIU Foundation. “We are very grateful to our Panther alumni couple for their incredible generosity and vision in creating this match challenge.”