Gaels Giving Day 2025 Brings Iona University to Over $1.8 million in Annual Support
“The Power of Iona” is in the Iona University community, spanning from the alumni network, to our faculty, staff, students, parents and friends. The Iona community once again came together on March 17 to celebrate Gaels Giving Day, Iona University’s annual day of giving, a 24-hour campaign which encourages philanthropic support of gifts of any size to any available designation. The campaign was a notable success in annual support, in which 2,446 donors this year have given $1.8 million for the Fund for Iona, or to support athletics, scholarships and other important programs. The 24-hour period saw 658 donors give $324,997 for our biggest surge of the year.
In this day of celebration, members of the Iona community also participated in its yearly tradition of marching in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Led by the Iona University Pipe Band, the group was joined by members of the Iona University Gaelic Society and Iona University Alumni Association.
“Gaels Giving Day is a special time each year when the Iona community comes together to give back,” said Iona University President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “In addition to supporting scholarship funds and other important programs, the generosity of the Iona community has enabled us to seize key opportunities as they arise, which has been essential to our success. Thank you to all who contributed for your continued support of Iona and our students.”
Notable areas of outstanding crowdfunding support that helped the University achieve its participation goal of 2,000 participants included the President’s Innovation Fund, the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Programs Fund, and the Men’s and Women’s Rowing programs, to name a few. “It’s so inspiring to watch the tremendous support for our students and for our mission that pours in hour after hour on Gaels Giving Day—right up until the very last minute,” said Gary Grant, Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs. “Thank you everyone for making a difference.”
In an effort to “Be the Power of Iona, Show the Power of Iona, and Remember the Power of Iona,” the incredible generosity of Iona alumni and community members was amplified by the exciting dollar-for-dollar matches and challenges lined up to make gifts go even further:
- “The Chairman’s Challenge,” a dollar-for-dollar matching gift to the President’s Innovation Fund sponsored by Michael P. Hegarty ’66, Iona Board of Trustee Chair.
- A challenge gift for the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Programs Fund sponsored by Cathy McCabe ’85, member of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Gaels Go Further Advisory Board.
- A challenge gift toward the Golden Jubilarian Endowed Scholarship sponsored by Michael Novello Ed.D., OFM, ’68 and Janice Novello, Ph.D.
- Challenge gifts toward the Finish Line Fund sponsored by Jim Nanton ’72 and an anonymous donor.
- Challenge gifts toward the Iona Scholarship Fund sponsored by a member of the Class of 1991.
- Challenge gifts toward the Athletics General Fund and the Fund for Iona sponsored by Anita (nee Guarracino) ’85 and Steve ‘83 Iaco.
- A dollar-for-dollar matching gift toward the Men’s and Women’s Rowing Programs sponsored by Mike ’75 and Donna ’75 Sasso.
- A dollar-for-dollar matching gift toward the Jimmy Barrett ’81 Endowment Fund sponsored by Patricia (Barrett) and Joe Steccato, Iona Crew ‘87.
- A dollar-for-dollar matching gift toward the Men’s and Women’s Rowing Programs sponsored by Dan ’75 and Marie Houlihan.
- A dollar-for-dollar matching gift toward the Br. Robert E. Novak Rowing Endowment sponsored by Eileen and Mike Niedzwiecki ‘73
- Dollar-for-dollar matching gifts toward the Athletics General Fund and Men’s Basketball Program sponsored by Dr. Vincent ’71, ‘74MS and Michele Beni.
- A dollar-for-dollar match toward the Dean’s Excellence Fund for the LaPenta School of Business sponsored by Dean John DeMelis.
The year isn’t over yet! Iona University looks forward to continuing to grow this annual support through June 30. To make a gift and learn more about giving opportunities, please visit our online donation page.
Thank You for Your Support on Gaels Giving Day!
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.