The Big Give
BIG GIVE 2019 | April 3-4, 2019
2019 Big Give Thank You
Donors Deliver the Biggest Big Give
USD School of Law recently announced the results of its sixth annual Big Give–a 36-hour online fundraising campaign that took place on April 3 and 4, to raise funding for student scholarships, academic programs, and other key initiatives at the law school. 311 alumni along with numerous friends, faculty, and staff donated a total of $372,901, benefiting more than 17 areas of the law school.
“The success of the Big Give Campaign is a tribute to the generosity of the law school's alumni. Their philanthropy makes it possible to recruit and retain a high-quality and diverse student body, provide them with outstanding programs, innovative curriculum, and train them for successful legal careers,” said Dean Stephen C. Ferruolo.
Thank you to our matching gift donors for their impressive leadership: A big thank you to Casey Gerry—David Casey, ’74 (JD); Dale Giali, ’90 (JD) and Susan Westover-Giali, ’90 (JD); Gomez Trial Attorneys—John Gomez ’89 (BBA); Jackson Lewis; Sunita and Patrick Martin, ’92 (JD); C. Edward Miller, ’69 (JD); Laura and Kurt Robinson, ’84 (BA), ’87 (JD); RJS Law—A Tax Law Firm—Ronson J. Shamoun, ’98 (BAA), ’02 (JD), ’03 (LLM); for providing $100,000 in matching funds.
In addition, the law school also had outstanding individual support throughout the 36-hour campaign from Board of Visitors members, Richard Bartell, ’75 (JD), The Honorable Lynn Schenk, ’70 (JD), George Strong, ’74 (JD), Bill Baumgaertner, ’75 (JD) and Michael Kaplan, ’72 (JD) as well as Robert and Julianne D. Fellmeth, ’76 (BA), ’83 (JD), Robert Nagata, ’70, (JD), Kevin Ruddy, ’77, (JD), and several anonymous donors just to name a few.
Memorial Scholarships, honoring longtime partner of Seltzer, Caplan, McMahon & Vitek—Gerald L. McMahon, ’64 (JD), and former USD Provost, Professor of English and Law—Sister Sally Furay, ’72 (JD), topped the list of scholarship funds supported throughout the 36-hour campaign. Generous donors funded other important giving designations, including the Center for Public Interest Law & the Children’s Advocacy Institute, Legal Clinics, efforts to rename a center in honor of Professor C. Hugh Friedman—Friedman Institute for Securities and Corporate Law (FISCL) Law Annual Fund, Loan Repayment Assistance Program, Diversity Fund, and academic programs.
The campaign launched with a kick-off BASH on Tuesday, April 2, at RJS LAW hosted by Board of Visitors member and adjunct faculty member Ronson J. Shamoun, '98 (BA), '02 (JD), '03 (LLM). By the close of the Big Give’s Opening Celebration, supporters raised over $50,000 towards the campaign's totals. Law Firm Challenge firm Gomez Trial Attorneys and Board of Visitors member John Gomez, ’89 (BBA), co-sponsored the most successful kickoff event in the law school’s history.