Head Softball Coach Victor Reich (left) and student-athletes accept a $5,000 bonus award from prize sponsor Nick Citera and President Dr. Robert Gervasi. The Mount Saint Mary College softball program took top honors for athletics after raising more than $16,000 during the weeklong campaign.
Mount Saint Mary College wrapped up its annual Go Blue fundraising campaign on Friday, October 30, crossing the finish line of its ambitious $100,000 goal thanks to broad community participation and a pivotal eleventh-hour gift.
The weeklong campaign, which ran from October 23 through October 30, rallied alumni, faculty, staff, students, and community partners to support more than 30 initiatives across campus. Direct giving reached $95,007 before an anonymous donor stepped forward in the final moments with a $5,000 contribution, pushing total donations to $100,007.
The campaign culminated in an on-campus celebration where leaders announced the recipients of $20,000 in bonus prize money. The prize pool was sponsored by the Mount Saint Mary College Alumni Association Board of Directors ($10,000) alongside local restaurateurs Nick Citera and Nicolas DiBrizzi, owners of Hudson Taco, Pizza Shop, and Cosimo’s (another $10,000).
Four campus programs were each awarded a $5,000 bonus split across athletic and non-athletic divisions:
- Athletics – Most Dollars Raised: Softball, which collected more than $16,000.
- Athletics – Most Unique Donors: Men’s Lacrosse, securing support from 63 individual donors.
- Non-Athletics – Most Dollars Raised: Performing Arts Society, which collected more than $4,250.
- Non-Athletics – Most Unique Donors: Nursing Simulation and Learning Center, securing support from more than a dozen individual donors.
“It’s truly a blessing to work with this amazing community and family that rallies for each other, supports each other, and continually gives,” said Nikki Khurana-Baugh, Vice President for College Advancement. “When you scroll through the list of donors and see how many people gave to multiple initiatives, it’s truly overwhelming. The heart, love, and support poured into this effort made Go Blue an incredible success.”
Mount Saint Mary College President Dr. Robert Gervasi also addressed the gathering to express his gratitude to the college community: “I just want to say thank you again to everyone – those who are here on staff and those who are part of our extended family,” said Dr. Gervasi. “This really shows that we are one large, extended family.”
All funds raised during Go Blue directly benefit the designated academic programs, student clubs, athletic teams, and campus services that define the Mount experience.
While the Go Blue campaign has come to an end, you can still help support the Mount by calling 845-569-3216 or emailing Nikki.Khurana-Baugh@msmc.edu