CANTON – St. Lawrence University has received two anonymous commitments totaling $18 million as part of The Campaign for Every Laurentian, the University’s largest comprehensive fundraising initiative in its 165-year history.

“In true Laurentian spirit, these two families conferred with each other to make this joint commitment with the greatest possible impact, as a signal of how much they believe in St. Lawrence’s future,” said President William L. Fox ’75. “They entered into what they called ‘a benign conspiracy’ to make not only an important statement about creative philanthropy, but to make a difference with so much positive momentum surrounding St. Lawrence.”

These planned estate gifts, which came from members of the University’s Board of Trustees, provide significant momentum for The Campaign for Every Laurentian, which launched publicly in 2018. With four and a half months left in the Campaign, 95 percent, or $213 million has been raised in gifts and commitments toward the $225 million goal. To date, more than 20,076 unique donors have made 65,657 gifts towards the Campaign.

Eight of the ten largest gifts in the University’s history have occurred during this Campaign, and these two gifts are included among them.

“The donors were so excited by the innovation displayed in the recent Experience St. Lawrence Task Force recommendations that they wanted to be part of the forward momentum at St. Lawrence,” said Campaign co-chair Sarah Johnson ’82, P’15. “Jay Ireland ’77, P’00, also a co-chair of the Campaign, and I am grateful for their shared passion and energy as we work toward fulfilling the bold vision the community has for the future of the University.”

The Campaign targets four “Big Ideas”: Endowing Our Future, Learning for the 21st Century, the Power of Connections, and Campus Stewardship. As the Campaign nears its completion, there are five emerging priorities that have also risen to the forefront for the St. Lawrence community.

Student Scholarships

Every Laurentian has the opportunity to play a role in providing this life-changing education for another. Support for scholarships at all levels help the University enroll the very best students, including those who may not be able to attend without generous assistance. To attract the most promising academic talent regardless of socio-economic status, our financial aid must remain competitive.

Career Programming

St. Lawrence boasts one of the nation’s premier alumni networks, allowing students to realize their own unique potential by fostering connections. The Laurentian network also empowers students to contribute more – and more meaningfully – within our community and around the world. Support for career programming, such as mentorship, internships and expert advice, can help align students’ passions with their futures today.

Health and Wellness

The depth and breadth of mental healthcare at St. Lawrence are the direct result of two factors: the compassion of the Laurentian community and generous financial support. The Torrey and Johnson families, along with other donors, have supported health and wellness by expanding in-person counseling services as well as tele-counseling support for students. The impact of these investments can be seen in the University’s leading graduation and retention rates, as well as the success of St. Lawrence graduates. Continued financial support is needed to maintain wellness services and expand our offerings, including added availability of mental health counseling, bringing wellness specialists to campus, training for peer-to-peer support or mentoring and more.

Diversity and Inclusion

To strengthen the bonds of our community for every Laurentian, St. Lawrence will invest in its diversity, inclusion and equity efforts. Donors can make an immediate positive impact by making a gift to this priority. Support will enhance a variety of initiatives including a range of events, programs and trainings centered around diversity and inclusion, promoting and growing engagement in the Laurentian network to better represent our community, and supporting the IDEAL Initiative (Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Across Laurentians).