Cooper Union to Join First Worldwide Student Philanthropy Day

POSTED ON: February 1, 2013

The Cooper Union is proud to announce that a group of students representing all three schools have come together to form Cooper’s first-ever Student Philanthropy Committee: a group dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy, and growing engagement in fundraising among students. On February 28, they will join nearly 80 educational institutions across the world to participate in the first ever international Student Engagement and Philanthropy Day.  Monies raised by the student-led effort will be donated to The Cooper Union Annual Fund, which each year provides unrestricted support for students' education.

"As students, we experience the benefits of a Cooper education every day and recognize that it is imperative for us to give back however we can to help preserve Peter Cooper’s legacy for future generations," the Student Philanthropy Committee co-chairs Peter Zohore, Melinda Wong and Diana Yun wrote in a statement.

The Committee will engage the entire Cooper community in a full day of events designed to strengthen the culture of philanthropy on campus and promote participation from 100% of the student body. Student-made profiles of alumni donors will be shared in the Foundation building and NAB lobbies, where students will collect gifts from their peers and encourage them to sign and mail student-made thank you post cards to alumni donors. Students whose gifts meet or exceed the suggested minimum donation level of $15 will also receive a limited edition t-shirt commemorating the day. All participating students will be entered into a raffle to win Cooper merchandise at the culminating celebration on the evening of Thursday, February 28. 

"From its very founding, The Cooper Union has always relied on the philanthropic support of those who believe in its unique mission," the co-chairs wrote.  "As Cooper works toward building a stronger financial future, we understand that increased philanthropy from all members of our community will play a critically important role. We are proud to announce this initiative as The Cooper Union honors Peter Cooper’s legacy through various Founder’s Day celebrations in the month of February."

Volunteer Shifts are open from 12:00 - 4:00p.m., Tuesday, February 26 - Thursday, February 28. Sign-up at www.tinyurl.com/volunteer-4-cooper

What: Student Engagement and Philanthropy Day

When: Tuesday, February 26 - Thursday, February 28, 2013

Where: The NAB and Foundation Building Lobbies

More News from The Cooper Union

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.