A University’s foundation is not found in its buildings or in its programs, but in its people – specifically those who commit to our mission, translate it into action and, most importantly, invest in that mission. The extraordinary financial support of Founders Society members provides a critical foundation from which the University continues to advance toward greater excellence

 

The Founders Society recognizes the University’s most generous donors who provide transformational support for UD’s faculty, staff, students and campus by committing $1 million or more cumulatively during their lifetimes.

Recognizing Generosity

An engraved granite paver located on Founders Walkway

An exclusive membership proclamation box and pin

Exclusive invitations to presidential and Society-only events

Recognition in appropriate donor listings and publications

Communications with updates on the meaningful difference donors make at the University

Exclusive updates on University happenings and other Society-specific communications

Direct access to the Donor Relations team. Email donor-relations@udel.edu for guidance or with any questions.

-Donna M. Fontana, BE85

“My journey of supporting students at the University has had a tremendous impact on my life. We all know that helping someone obtain their dreams can never be underestimated, especially when they are improving society at large.  And to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, ‘To know that even one life has breathed easier because I have lived. That is to have succeeded.’”

-Donna M. Fontana, BE85
Founders Society Member

FOUNDERS SOCIETY IMPACT includes:

Students work in the Geltzeiler Trading Center.

 

Current-use support to establish innovative programs and centers

 

 

Stairway detail showing a painted Blue Hen in the new Whitney Athletic Center.

 

Facility support to transform campus

 

 

a student wearing a mask and white lab coat works in a lab.

Endowed funds to sustain support for UD’s people and programs in perpetuity, including scholarships, graduate fellowships, professorships and more

 

Founders Society Members

President Dennis Assanis and First Lady Eleni Assanis stand at the podium during a Founder's Society event.

FOUNDERS SOCIETY MEMBERS

Frank E. Acierno Sr. and Annette B. Scarborough

Ann Yelland Adornetto '88 and Michael Adornetto

Charles C. Allen III '71 and Barbara N. Allen

Carol A. Ammon '11H and Marie E. Pinizzotto M.D. '08M '19H

Carol Leefeldt Anderer and David G. Anderer

Sondra J. Arnsdorf '69 '71M

Michael J. Axe

Mark P. Bendett '81M '85PhD

Barry J. '78 and M. Therese Verdugo Bentley

Keith A. '80 and Corinne P. Bentley

George P. Blankenship '74 and Andrea LeNoir Blankenship '73

Sharon L. Brittingham '70 '09EdD

Donald B. Brown '72M

Bernadette D. Buccini

Christopher F. Buccini

Robert E. Buccini

Sandra L. Burgoon

Teresa C. Byrne '79

R. R. M. III and Stephanie C. Carpenter

Daniel L. Chester

Patricia and John Cochran

Morton '58 '15H and Donna K. Collins

John R. Collins '80 and Margaret Pierce Collins '80

Achilles Constantakopoulos

Gerret V. '22H and Tatiana B. Copeland '22H

Howard E. Jr. '70M '18H and Joyce O. Cosgrove

Francis J. Eastburn '60

Stephen F. Esser '85 and Dana L. Dortone

Catherine Eliades Faller '58 and James G. Faller '62M '67PhD

David J. Farber

Myra Campbell Ferguson '66

Ronald M. Finch '56

Claudia G. and Richard B. Fischer

Donna M. Fontana '85

William L. '58M and Mary Kay Friend

Francis E. Jr. '62 and Mildred W. Gardiner

Michael S. '80 and Rosann F. Geltzeiler

Charles A. '70 and Patricia Genuardi

Herman L. Glotzer

Robert W. '59 '10H and Jane Gore

Sarah Ives Gore '76M

Donald L. Gouge Jr. '80

Stuart M. and Suzanne B. Grant

Thomas L. '60 and Kipp T. Gutshall

E. Thomas Harvey III '75 and Robin Adair Harvey

Eva-Maria Hauck-Grasselli

Pierre du Pont Hayward and Martina Combs Hayward '74

Constance LaRoe Helwig '73 and David R. Helwig '73

Thomas W. '73 and Katherine M. Hofmann

Mary F. Holahan '74M '78PhD and Luigi Caporaso

David E. and Kathleen A. Hollowell

Charles W. '75 and Patricia A. Horn

Howard E. Hudson Jr. '63 and Patricia Coyne Hudson '63

Marilyn Perry Jacobsen '72 and Raymond A. Jacobsen Jr. '71

Sarah Rickards Jastak '54M '63PhD

Terri Connor Kelly '83 and John B. Kelly '83

Carolyn Cochrane Kent '66M

Krishan K. and Krishna K. Khanna

Michael J. and Hannah G. Koziski

William M. '85 and Melissa G. Lafferty

Mark Samuels Lasner

Arthur '69 and Anne T. Layton

Rama S. '72M and Sashi Marda

Kathryn Moore Massau '57

Paul K. Mattheiss '61 and Carol Moore Mattheiss '60

Brigid Hawk McVaugh '74 and John B. McVaugh Jr. '71 '75M

Dennis and Karen L. Mehiel

Beverly J. C. '98 and David L. Mills

Sepehr Mostaghim '70 and Nancy Waite Mostaghim '69

Janice L. Pehrson '67 and Kristyan Panzica

Augustus D. Pierce Jr. and Edna P. Pierce

David A. Plastino '78

Donald J. Puglisi '12H and Marichu C. Valencia

Robin Burschlag Pzena ’81 and Richard S. Pzena

Michael J. '91 and Christina M. Renna

W. Eric '69 and Judith E. Roberson

Patricia Orris Robertson '72M and Charles W. Robertson Jr.

Fred P. Jr. '63 and Madeleine T. Rullo

Paul H. '73 and Denise B. Schipper

Jane M. Selewach '73 and Steven H. Peavy

William H. Severns Jr. '50PhD

Robert L. Siegfried Jr. '81 and Kathleen Horgan Siegfried '85

Gary A. Smith '80 and Carol Mertes-Smith '74

Robert W. '83 and Teresa O. Smith '83

A. Gilchrist III '21H and Mimi Sparks

Donald L. Sparks

David W. and Lisa A. Spartin

Mary Sturges Dodge '73 and Thomas A. Evans

UD Alumni Association

Sue Ann G. Weinberg

Kenneth C. '80 and Elizabeth K. Whitney

Marna Cupp Whittington '68 '17H and Thomas D. Whittington Jr. '69

Thomas B. '72 and Judy B. Willing

Sue Woods '79

Virginia M. Zabriskie

Anonymous donors who have graciously given to the University without recognition

Founders Walkway

Close up photograph of the Founder's Walkway near the Amy DuPont Hall.

To ensure that we remember the legacies of our Founders Society members for years to come, the University recognizes every member with a physical marker prominently displayed on the Founders Walkway.

The Walkway, located adjacent to Amy DuPont Hall along the Roselle Center for the Arts lawn, features granite pavers engraved with members’ names, as well as society banners and descriptive threshold stones.

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