Some parents of Cooper Union students, perhaps feeling as blissfully untethered to home as their children, recently spent a deep-winter evening relaxing and enjoying themselves at The Stuyvesant Fish House during a reception held in their honor. Each of them had made a financial contribution to The Cooper Union and so President Jamshed Bharucha feted the group as a token of gratitude.

While arctic winds dropped the temperature outside to the low teens, hors d'oeuvres, drinks and good company kept things warmer inside as parents of both current and past students mingled with members of the Board of Trustees, deans and members of the development and student services staff. "This evening is really a celebration of Cooper parents and your generosity. You are a vital part of the Cooper community, and we are very grateful for your support," President Bharucha said to the gathered group. The president went on to announce a new recognition society, The Parents Leadership Circle, for those who make gifts of $2,500 or more to Cooper.

"The Parents Leadership Circle honors our most generous parents,” Elizabeth Rivera, major gifts officer at The Cooper Union, says. "Gifts from parents are essential to providing the first-rate faculty, labs, exhibitions and career services that all students rely on to accomplish their academic goals."

David Landau, parent to Sophie Lee Landau, a chemical engineering junior, also said a few words to the group. "The very first lesson we all learned from our parents was the need to say a strong 'thank you' to someone who does you a great kindness," he said. "Each and every one of us, thus, needs to say a strong thank you to The Cooper Union for what it gives to our children. But words alone are not enough. We need to back them up with deeds," he said, whereupon he presented a generous check to President Bharucha.

If you are interested in joining The Parents Leadership Circle or making a gift of any amount to the Annual Fund, please contact Elizabeth Rivera at (212) 353-4171 or erivera@cooper.edu