January 31, 2022 — Marist is delighted to announce a $250,000 pledge to the College by Chair of the Board of Trustees Ross Mauri ’80/P’15 and his wife Barbara. The Mauris’ generous commitment is intended to help deserving Marist students attain their dream of a college degree and take advantage of the academic and co-curricular opportunities and experiences that make a Marist education so impactful.

 

The Mauris’ pledge follows and parallels an earlier $250,000 commitment by Marist President Kevin Weinman and his wife Beth. Announced in December, the Weinmans’ gift is intended to make a Marist education more accessible and equitable for talented students, regardless of their financial circumstances. Said Ross, “We were very inspired that as one of Kevin’s very first decisions after becoming Marist’s president, he and his wife personally and generously invested in the future of the students at the College. We were so inspired that we, too, wanted to do our part to make all aspects of a Marist education more accessible to students with financial need.” 

 

“Expanding educational opportunity and eliminating financial barriers to participation in Marist’s signature learning experiences are among our very highest priorities,” Kevin said. “I’m so grateful to Ross and Barbara for their generous gift to support elements of these priorities that are the most important to them.” Vice President for College Advancement Chris DelGiorno noted, “It is truly exciting when meaningful philanthropic support motivates others to give, creating a powerful multiplier effect. The Mauris’ commitment underscores the critical importance of philanthropy in advancing Marist’s mission. Their pledge also helps to establish strong momentum for the College’s fundraising efforts as we begin a new year.”

 

The Mauris’ pledge supports six designations in total, including two high-impact experiential learning opportunities, three existing endowed scholarship programs, and the Marist Fund. 

 

• The Summer Research Fellows Program in the School of Computer Science and Mathematics provides invaluable experiential learning opportunities for talented students to conduct original research under the mentorship and guidance of a Marist faculty sponsor. “One of the school’s most distinctive features is the abundance of faculty/student research activity,” said Roger Norton, Dean of the School of Computer Science and Mathematics. “Students go on to present their research regionally, nationally, and even internationally. These experiences set them apart when they enter the job market or apply to graduate school.” The Mauris’ pledge will support two summer research fellows each summer for the next five years.  


• The Tarver Summer Internship Program allows a cohort of highly motivated and accomplished Marist students to work with local nonprofits on community improvement projects. “So often, nonprofit internships are unpaid, making this type of experience inaccessible to some of our students,” said Melissa Gaeke, Director of Marist’s Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership. “Tarver funding provides a stipend, tuition credits, and on-campus housing to its recipients. This allows our students to spend a summer putting community-based learning into action, thinking about broad public issues and the role of nonprofits in affecting change.” The Mauris’ pledge will support one Tarver Intern each summer for the next five years.  


• The Mauri Family Scholarships were initially established in 2011. The Mauri Family Computer Science Scholarship provides financial assistance to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in computer science, and The Mauri Family Soccer Scholarship supports incoming freshmen on the men’s soccer team with documented financial need. “During my own years as a Marist undergraduate, my family barely had enough money to pay my tuition and I couldn’t afford to live on campus,” recalled Ross. “In expanding our support for these endowed scholarships, Barbara and I want to ensure that the diverse and talented students Marist recruits have the resources necessary to benefit from the full range of residential college-year experiences, both in and outside of the classroom.”   


• The Dennis and Marilyn Murray Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to extremely talented students who might not otherwise attend Marist. This fund, now valued at over $3 million, was established in the Murrays’ honor in 2016. “We were pleased to follow the Weinmans’ lead in honoring Dennis and Marilyn’s legacy and to help the College to attract and enroll students with the potential to become leaders in their chosen fields,” said Barbara. 


• The Marist Fund is the College’s unrestricted annual giving program, and an important means by which Marist alumni, parents, and friends provide financial support to the College. “We are grateful that Ross and Barbara are continuing their longstanding support of the Marist Fund as an integral component of their generous pledge,” said Chanel Marino, Director of Annual Giving. “Marist Fund resources enhance the opportunities and experiences that are available to all Marist students.” 

In making this pledge, the Mauris emphasized the ways in which their family had personally benefitted from a Marist education. “I am delighted, both as an alumnus of the College myself and the proud parent of a Marist graduate, to give something back to an institution that has given us so much,” said Ross. “Just as Barbara and I have been inspired to support these initiatives, we hope other alumni and friends will be motivated to contribute to Marist in ways and amounts that are meaningful to them.”