News by Topic: Gifts

Funding from the long-time corporate partner will support two innovative packaging centers at RIT: the American Packaging Corp. Center for Packaging Innovation, a comprehensive teaching, research and testing laboratory; and the Center for Sustainable Packaging. Both centers are located in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology.

RIT has selected Phillip D. Castleberry, a 20-year veteran of higher education advancement and fundraising, as its new vice president for Development and Alumni Relations. Castleberry, who is currently serving as vice president for institutional advancement at St. John Fisher College, was chosen after a national search. He begins his RIT duties on Feb. 1.

A program called “momentum” designed for students at RIT to develop their leadership skills while actively working to address community challenges has gained momentum, in part, due to a $250,000 donation to expand the program next semester.

The National Science Foundation awarded RIT’s College of Engineering Technology nearly $1 million to fund 36 scholarships for economically disadvantaged, academically talented students and to develop faculty programming to improve engineering technology education.

RIT will use a substantial gift of real estate in Penfield to expand the university’s research and educational offerings in ecology, agriculture, sustainability and other fields. Amy Leenhouts Tait and Robert C. Tait have gifted to the university their 177-acre property, which will be dedicated as the Tait Preserve of RIT.

The Gap Year Entrepreneurial Fellowship allows SOIS students to take time off of school to focus on personal business ventures while still working toward their degrees. Students in the fellowship also receive a $15,000 award to create the time and space needed to build their businesses.

An ambitious initiative along the Quarter Mile will transform RIT into a maker’s heaven, where the arts and technology converge and ideas percolate freely.

The month of November is traditionally a time to think about what you’re thankful for. On Nov. 15, the National Day of Philanthropy, RIT will spend the day celebrating its generous donors during the Day of Thanks.

The donation includes four premier and mid-tier ultrasound systems, transducers, simulators and related devices. The addition to the RIT sonography scanning suite enables students to practice on different models before beginning their clinical internships.

At an Oct. 29 celebration at RIT, E. Philip Saunders announced a $7.5 million gift to the business college that bears his name. This transformational gift will be used to help fund a major renovation and expansion of the facilities in Max Lowenthal Hall, home of Saunders College of Business.

Research is underway at RIT to create an app that will serve as a resource to help young mothers answer questions about raising a child, connect them with programs and resources, as well as foster a virtual parenting community.

Making addiction treatment and mental health services accessible to homeless people via TeleHealth is the focus of a federally funded program at RIT.