By Troy Watkins
Westfield State University received a 2019 Educational Fundraising Award in June from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for overall improvement, in recognition of significant program growth over a three-year period. Roughly 100 higher education institutions in the country received these awards this year, and the University is one of just 29 to earn its first Educational Fundraising Award, a record number since the awards were established in 1993.
President Ramon Torrecilha, Ph.D., has created a culture of renewed philanthropy since arriving at the University in 2016. The Westfield State Foundation, Inc., the philanthropic partner of the University, realized gifts of nearly $691,000 in fiscal year 2015. It raised nearly $900,000 in FY16; $1.8 million in FY17; and more than $3 million in FY18.
Westfield State was one of just six public comprehensive institutions with endowments under $35 million to receive the honor this year.
“We’re proud to receive this national recognition for the philanthropic success we have enjoyed over the past four years,” says Dr. Torrecilha. “We are thankful for the exemplary efforts and teamwork of the Division of Institutional Advancement, led by Dr. Erica Broman, vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the Westfield State Foundation. The commitment of our many constituents who support the success of students through their personal, professional, and financial contributions has been remarkable.”
The Educational Fundraising Awards annually recognize exemplary development programs based on a blind review of data submitted by the institutions to the CASE AMAtlas Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey. CASE member institutions that have participated in the VSE for the past three years are automatically considered.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this prestigious award from CASE. It is testimony to the terrific work of
our Institutional Advancement team,” says Dr. Broman. “We join some highly select institutions across the country in receiving this recognition, and we are deeply appreciative to our many alumni and members of the community who continue to increase their support of Westfield State, which allows the University to provide additional resources to students.”
