Momentum Campaign

The Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact

Together, the Adelphi community raised $103 million to expand opportunities for students and strengthen the University for generations to come. Thank you to the alumni, friends, faculty, staff and donors whose generosity made this extraordinary achievement possible.

Together, We Made an Extraordinary Impact

The Momentum Campaign concluded on August 31, 2026, raising $103 million and surpassing its $100 million goal a full year ahead of schedule. Gifts from across the Adelphi community will support scholarships, academic excellence, student experiences and other priorities that help students succeed.

The campaign may be complete, but its impact is still unfolding. Explore the stories on this page of the people and programs your generosity supports and the opportunities we continue to create together.

Give to the Adelphi Fund

Funds raised

$103M

Campaign goal

$100M

Our Thanks Go To You

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Victoria Rodriguez discovered a passion for helping people in need of care as a youth. She found her drive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now she’s studying premed under a scholarship. Adelphi’s Momentum makes things happen. In early 2021, Adelphi’s senior leadership and the entire community began developing our University’s current strategic plan, Momentum 2. The five-year plan emphasizes remaining nimble, modern and relevant in today’s rapidly changing educational environment. It stays true to Adelphi’s mission of providing a rigorous, personalized education that transforms the lives of our students. With this new plan, our legacy of transforming for the future continues. _______________________   Read about the Momentum 2 plan at https://www.adelphi.edu/strategic-plan/ Learn more about Adelphi University at https://adelphi.edu. Subscribe to Adelphi’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/user/AdelphiUniv?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/AdelphiU https://www.twitter.com/AdelphiU https://www.instagram.com/adelphiu/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/adelphi-university/ https://www.tiktok.com/@adelphiu
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How scholarships are helping Victoria Rodriguez help others

Joe Sawma came from Lebanon with a dream for a better life for himself and those around him. The food insecurity relief program he launched at Adelphi earned him a Newman Civic Fellowship. Adelphi’s Momentum makes things happen. In early 2021, Adelphi’s senior leadership and the entire community began developing our University’s current strategic plan, Momentum 2. The five-year plan emphasizes remaining nimble, modern and relevant in today’s rapidly changing educational environment. It stays true to Adelphi’s mission of providing a rigorous, personalized education that transforms the lives of our students. With this new plan, our legacy of transforming for the future continues. _______________________   Read about the Momentum 2 plan at https://www.adelphi.edu/strategic-plan/ Find out more about Sawma’s efforts to help his fellow students and his Newman Civic Fellowship at https://www.adelphi.edu/news/meet-our-2023-2024-newman-civic-fellowship-winner/ Learn more about Adelphi University at https://adelphi.edu. Subscribe to Adelphi’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/user/AdelphiUniv?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/AdelphiU https://www.twitter.com/AdelphiU https://www.instagram.com/adelphiu/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/adelphi-university/ https://www.tiktok.com/@adelphiu
YouTube Video UExFdWwxaU1ocHF6ejZBWmR1QWU0S0NSRHh6c1BqVUh2VS4yODlGNEE0NkRGMEEzMEQy

How scholarships are helping Joe Sawma feed the hungry

Honors College student MacKenzie Pina spent a summer a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kenya. As co-captain of Adelphi’s swim team, she spent winter break training in Puerto Rico. The anthropology major is taking on the world. Adelphi’s Momentum is making things happen. In early 2021, Adelphi’s senior leadership and the entire community began developing our University’s current strategic plan, Momentum 2. The five-year plan emphasizes remaining nimble, modern and relevant in today’s rapidly changing educational environment. It stays true to Adelphi’s mission of providing a rigorous, personalized education that transforms the lives of our students. With this new plan, our legacy of transforming for the future continues. _______________________   Read about the Momentum 2 plan at https://www.adelphi.edu/strategic-plan/ Find out more about MacKenzie’s Kenya trip at: https://www.adelphi.edu/news/at-a-un-world-heritage-site-in-kenya-an-undergraduate-digs-into-history/ Learn more about Adelphi University at https://adelphi.edu. Subscribe to Adelphi’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/user/AdelphiUniv?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/AdelphiU https://www.twitter.com/AdelphiU https://www.instagram.com/adelphiu/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/adelphi-university/ https://www.tiktok.com/@adelphiu
YouTube Video UExFdWwxaU1ocHF6ejZBWmR1QWU0S0NSRHh6c1BqVUh2VS4wMTcyMDhGQUE4NTIzM0Y5

How scholarships helped MacKenzie Pina ’24 become an anthropologist

Strengthening Adelphi for the Future

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Dr. Elaine Smith has been a part of Adelphi from age 16 through serving as College of Nursing and Public Health dean to launching a scholarship in her son’s name. “I think that The Momentum Campaign is critical and pivotal for Adelphi to continue to grow and evolve.” Dr. Smith first came to Adelphi when she was 16, for a summer science program. She ended up applying and receiving a scholarship and later teaching at the University. In 2021, she retired as dean of the College of Nursing and Public Health. “I really came full cycle here, from student to faculty to dean,” she said. In 2024, Dr. Smith established a $100,000 nursing scholarship in memory of her son, who tragically died at age 27. “It was a very difficult time for me,” she recalls. “In terms of trying to turn a very tragic situation into something more positive, I thought about Adelphi. I recognized that Brendan didn’t really get a chance to fulfill all of his dreams and his goals in his life.” The scholarship also recognizes the support she received when she was a student. “I wouldn’t have finished my degree, I wouldn’t have been at Adelphi, if it weren’t for the scholarships that I received, and I hope the scholarship does the same for the recipients moving forward.” Dr. Smith’s generosity is just a part of Adelphi’s future. Through 2027, The Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact will raise $100 million to advance the initiatives, vision and promise of our Momentum 2 strategic plan. It’s only possible through the spirit and generosity of people like Dr. Elaine Smith.   _______________________   Learn more about Adelphi University at https://adelphi.edu. Subscribe to Adelphi’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/user/AdelphiUniv Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/adelphiU https://www.x.com/adelphiU https://www.instagram.com/adelphiu/ https://www.tiktok.com/@adelphiu https://www.linkedin.com/school/adelphi-university/
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The Momentum Campaign: “Critical and Pivotal” Support, Elaine L. Smith ’78, MS ’88, EdD (87)

The inaugural member of Adelphi’s Million Dollar Roundtable, Carol A. Ammon, firmly believes the education Adelphi provided her and her mother is behind their cumulative 80 years of successful careers. It’s a belief that inspired her many generous donations to the University, including a gift in honor of her mother, Ruth S. Ammon ’42, a gifted second grade teacher who is now the namesake of the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences. She has also established several endowments benefiting Adelphi students and faculty in the Ammon College, as well as in the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. Carol A. Ammon, who earned her MBA at Adelphi in 1979 and received an honorary degree from the University in 2010, began her career in the pharmaceutical division of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. She led the management team in the 1997 buyout and founding of Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., where she served as CEO until 2005 and retired as chair of the board in 2007. She was also a member of the Adelphi University Board of Trustees from 2005 through 2010. Always inspired by her mother’s belief in helping others, she enrolled in nursing school in 2018 and earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice three years later. As a nurse, she joined a mission in Haiti to provide free care to patients; her goal is to provide more immediate, one-to-one support to those who need it most. “I’d like to think I’m keeping Mom in my heart and doing some of the things she loved to do for so many,” she said. Through 2027, The Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact will raise $100 million to advance the initiatives, vision and promise of our Momentum 2 strategic plan. It’s only possible through the spirit and generosity of people like Carol Ammon. __________ Find out about the Momentum Campaign and the Momentum 2 strategic plan at https://www.adelphi.edu/campaign. Learn more about Adelphi University at https://adelphi.edu. Subscribe to Adelphi’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/user/AdelphiUniv Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/AdelphiU https://www.twitter.com/AdelphiU https://www.instagram.com/adelphiu/ https://www.tiktok.com/@adelphiu https://www.linkedin.com/school/adelphi-university/
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The Momentum Campaign: Honoring a Mother's Legacy, Carol A. Ammon, ’79, ’10 (Hon.), DNP

As a first-generation American and Queens, New York, inner-city youth, Leonard C. Achan didn’t see higher education in his future. “I never thought I’d go to college,” he said. “Adelphi became a beacon.” Now he’s shining a light to help today’s students find their paths. Leonard C. Achan ’99 remembers when he was a student with dreams. Now he’s an active part of making younger students’ dreams come true. Through the Momentum Campaign, you can, too. As a student in the College of Nursing and Public Health, Achan saw a future that he aspired to have. Today, as president and CEO of LiveOnNY, a nonprofit organization advocating for organ donation, he’s a testament to hard work and quality education. Achan sees a bright future for his alma mater as well. As an Adelphi University trustee and founder of both the Leonard Achan Sr. Endowed Scholarship for the College of Nursing and Public Health and the Zosia ‘GiGi’ Levine Endowed Scholarship Fund in the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology for Mental Health, he works to see that future realized. His support also made possible Adelphi’s Achan Family Interfaith Center and Chapel, which bears his family’s name. When he looks at Adelphi today, he sees the “contribution to the world across every discipline.” Through 2027, The Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact will raise $100 million to advance the initiatives, vision and promise of our Momentum 2 strategic plan. It’s only possible through the spirit and generosity of people like Leonard Achan. _______________________ Find out about the Momentum Campaign and the Momentum 2 strategic plan at https://www.adelphi.edu/campaign. Learn more about Adelphi University at https://adelphi.edu. Subscribe to Adelphi’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/user/AdelphiUniv Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/AdelphiU https://www.twitter.com/AdelphiU https://www.instagram.com/adelphiu/ https://www.tiktok.com/@adelphiu https://www.linkedin.com/school/adelphi-university/
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The Momentum Campaign: “Adelphi became a beacon.”—Leonard Achan ’99

Transformative Giving

Transformative Giving

Million Dollar Roundtable

To donors who have committed $1 million or more, we offer our deepest thanks. Meet Our Visionary Benefactors

Planned Gifts

Include Adelphi in your estate plans or make a planned gift, and you'll be honored as a member of the Forever Gold Society—a community shaping the future for generations to come. Planned Giving Options

Double Your Impact

With our matching campaign for endowed gifts, your new donations or pledges of $25,000 to $500,000 will be doubled. Endowment Matching

Campaign News

All Giving News

Beyond Fundraising

Our multi-year campaign focuses on amplifying Adelphi’s extraordinary impact on student lives as a premier institution of higher education. The Momentum Campaign is driven by the key goals of our ambitious five-year strategic plan, which prioritizes Adelphi’s mission, people, and resources. This initiative sustains our long history of fostering connection, innovation and transformation.

Thank You to Our Generous Donors

Patrick L. Ross Fellowship
Celebrating milestones at the 20th President’s Gala, Adelphi University commemorated 65 years of its renowned Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology. The Patrick L. Ross Fellowship Fund, honoring Professor Ross, reached $1.25 million, aiding underrepresented doctoral students since 2012. A Professor’s Legacy
Robert B. Catell ’99 (Hon.)
Robert B. Catell ’99 (Hon.) pledged to increase his Catell Family Endowed Scholarship Fund to $125,000, aiming to aid Brooklyn students, influenced by his ties to Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School and Adelphi’s impactful education. Catell’s Scholarship Expansion
Mark Grossman, MD
Since 2002, Dr. Mark Grossman has served as head team physician at Adelphi University. His $25,000 contribution in 2022 established the Dr. Mark Grossman Athletic Training Enhancement Fund, aiding athletic trainers’ professional growth. Decades of Dedication
Judith Ammerman, MA ’64, MS ’73
Retired educator Judith Ammerman has championed learning throughout her career. The double alumna taught for nearly 30 years at Garden City Middle School and has established three endowed funds supporting students, faculty and the University, including a $1.5 million planned gift and a $500,000 outright gift for a First Generation Endowed Scholarship Fund. Transformative Philanthropy
Regina Axelrod Endowment
In memory of longtime Adelphi political science faculty member Regina Axelrod, PhD, her husband, Leonard Kahn, established the Regina Axelrod Faculty Excellence Fund and the Regina Axelrod Endowed Internship Fund, supporting Adelphi’s political science faculty and students with $36,000 gifts each. Honoring Faculty & Student Excellence
Emerita Helene Sullivan ’79
To commemorate our 125th anniversary, Trustee Emerita Helene Sullivan pledged $125,000 to establish a new endowed scholarship for first-generation students. Largest Giving Day Commitment

Inspired to Give: Our Million Dollar Roundtable

The 26 members of Adelphi's Million Dollar Roundtable each have their own powerful reasons for ensuring that Adelphi continues its legacy of transformation, far into the future. In this video, they share how Adelphi shaped their lives and launched their careers. In the words of Robert B. Willumstad ’05 (Hon.), "This is where lives are changed."

Six Strategic Priorities

With our strategic plan as our guide, we will advance Adelphi in these key areas:

Upcoming Events

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Alumni and Friends , Clubs, Organizations and Activities , Fundraisers , Social Events
Spirit Weekend
October 14–18
Garden City Campus
Clubs, Organizations and Activities , Faculty and Staff , Fundraisers
Spirit Weekend Campus Kick-Off
October 14 •12:00pm
Nexus Plaza, Outside the Swirbul Library
Alumni and Friends , Awards, Receptions and Celebrations , Fundraisers
All Alumni Brunch and Spirit Awards
October 17 •10:30am
Ruth S. Harley University Center, Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom
View All Campaign Events

University Advancement

Contact
Email
advservices@adelphi.edu
Phone
516.877.3250
Fax
516.877.6890
More Info
Website
Location
Nexus Building, 200