Cleveland State University announced it will embark on a $100 million comprehensive campaign, "Engage: The Campaign for Cleveland State University," that will significantly increase available funds for needed scholarships and programs that help students succeed. The plan, which was unveiled recently at CSU's signature annual fundraiser, Radiance, is the first-ever fundraising effort of its kind for the University.

The campaign received a significant boost with an announcement at the event from CSU alumnus and Parker Hannifin Chairman Donald Washkewicz that he and his wife, Pamela, have donated $5 million. This is the second major gift since 2014 from the Washkewicz family.

“Cleveland State University is an essential institution that has a special obligation to deliver higher education excellence while maintaining affordability," said CSU President Ronald M. Berkman. "We are extraordinarily grateful to the Washkewicz family for propelling this campaign forward and supporting our mission to be a model for public, urban universities." 

In 2014, Mr. and Mrs. Washkewicz and the Parker Hannifin Foundation donated a combined $10 million. In recognition of the transformational gift, the College of Engineering was renamed in the family's honor. The most recent gift will also be directed to enhancing engineering education at CSU.

"An investment in CSU is an investment in Northeast Ohio," said Mr. Washkewicz." We are very proud to contribute again and we are confident that CSU alumni and the community will join us in responding strongly to this opportunity to build on the University's momentum."

The campaign will be co-chaired by Mr. Washkewicz and Monte Ahuja, both of whom have deep ties to the Northeast Ohio business and civic communities.

Mr. Ahuja is Chairman and CEO of MURA Holdings LLC and served on the CSU Board of Trustees from 1991 to 2000, including six years as chairman. In 2011, he and his wife Usha donated $10 million to CSU. The University renamed the Monte Ahuja College of Business in his honor.

"Cleveland State University is a passion in my life and I am honored to co-chair this campaign with my fellow alumnus Don Washkewicz," said Mr. Ahuja. "This campaign will help ensure the continued success of CSU students and provide a pipeline of graduates who are committed to using their education for the betterment of Northeast Ohio..

CSU has launched a website with additional information about the campaign at www.EngageforCSU.com.

 

Join us next Tuesday June 16th at 6PM
St. Peter Rectory, Superior Ave. and E 17th. 
Dinner Provided! 

 Contact Kaela to RSVP or if you would like to know more: kgeschke@campusdistrict.org or 216-287-4535

And begun to fix it he has. Since his arrival, the hospital has inched its way back into the black after finishing 2011 — before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization — with a $10 million loss.

It was a difficult haul, as the hospital slashed programs and eliminated 101 full-time-equivalent employees over the last four years. But now that the books are in order, the hospital has pumped significant resources into its core programs — orthopedics and behavior health, most notably — and the hospital’s patient volume is on the rise.

The Cuyahoga Land Bank's Programs Department has been spreading the word at Cleveland State University about the new BRAIN program. BRAIN stands for Buying and Retaining Academic Investment Now.  The goal of the new program is to afford Cuyahoga County’s current and recent college graduates the opportunity to become local homeowners.  Students and recent graduates who take advantage of this program can purchase a newly renovated home at a discount of fifteen percent of the purchase price and an additional five percent of the purchase price will be used to assist the buyer with closing costs.

Dennis Roberts, the Cuyahoga Land Bank’s, Director of Programs and Property Management, presented the benefits of the program during his wealth creation discussion at the Smart Thinking workshop that was conducted at CSU's campus this spring.  Roberts outlined how students purchasing a home through BRAIN will have a home with instant equity; thereby positioning themselves to create greater financial stability for themselves in the future.

There were more than twenty students that attended the workshop.  The Cuyahoga Land Bank held the Smart Thinking workshop in partnership with CSU student organization, Cleveland State Transfer Connection (CSTC), and long-time community leader in housing, Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS).  CSTC president and Cuyahoga Land Bank fellow April Waltonen opened up the session welcoming and what steps are needed to prepare for home ownership.  Vatreisha Nyemba, Compliance and Monitoring Manager at the Cuyahoga Land Bank, reviewed the eligibility requirements and further details about the actual BRAIN initiative.

Based on the student response and ongoing inquiries as a result of campus outreach efforts and the first of several planned Smart Thinking workshops, the BRAIN program is off to a great start towards matching eligible students with a new home to call their own.

The Cuyahoga Land Bank’s outreach to students not only brings the BRAIN attendees and sharing about the mission and goals of CSTC that assist students transferring to CSU.  Elizabeth Sanchez, Senior Housing Specialist for NHS, presented the students with valuable information on how to become financially ready to apply for a bank opportunity directly to those students who may be ready to purchase, but also provides an avenue for all students to gain valuable information for the future on how to prepare to purchase a home.

The BRAIN program seeks to further the Cuyahoga Land Bank’s mission to return vacant and abandoned properties throughout Cuyahoga County back to productive reuse by providing affordable housing options for students and recent graduates so that they can make Cuyahoga County their home. For further information on the BRAIN program, available homes and specific eligibility criteria please contact the Cuyahoga Land Bank at 216-698-8853 and view our website http://www.cuyahogalandbank.org/BRAIN.