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UB 'boldly' goes where it hasn't gone before

University at Buffalo
A view of the University at Buffalo's North Campus.

The University at Buffalo is moving into the academic fundraising big leagues with a new "Boldly Buffalo" goal of $1 billion.The announcement was made by President Satish Tripathi Thursday in one of the university's signature buildings, the towering Jacobs Medical School on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus downtown.

The original goal of the fund drive was $650 million, but it has already netted $711 million. University Development Vice President Rodney Grabowski talked about how those dollars have changed UB.

"Davis Hall on UB’s North Campus, the Paula Agrusa Plaza and the Murchie Family Field House and so many more. Donors have also added or increased 708 scholarships, enabling thousands of students, each year, to attend UB. In addition, 32 endowed faculty positions have been funded, ensuring the best researchers and teachers can find a professional home at UB," Grabowski said.

Drive Co-chair Dr. Dan Alexander said he worked as a firefighter to finish undergraduate studies at UB, before attending its medical school. He met his wife at UB, and now he and his wife are giving back.

"As we help them with their educational expenses, we also know we are making the medical community in the Buffalo Niagara Region even stronger," Alexander said. "These are the future doctors and researchers who are going to help this community be healthier. We also care very deeply about the Western New York community."

Last year, alums like the Alexanders kicked in $96 million in the midst of a pandemic, with 44,000 graduates contributing since the drive officially opened in 2018.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.
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