#CUNYTuesday Offers Donors Another Option to Show Support for BMCC

#CUNYTuesday is an initiative of the City University of New York (CUNY) to benefit the students at its 25 colleges. #CUNYTuesday will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 and is open to all donors, employees, faculty, students, alumni and friends of BMCC. It’s an opportunity to support BMCC programs and services that are critical to helping students succeed in college.

#CUNYTuesday combines the former CUNY Campaign with Giving Tuesday, a national day of giving held every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. In past years, BMCC has focused its #CUNYTuesday campaign to support a variety of initiatives that include student scholarships and student support services.

In 2019, BMCC focused its #CUNYTuesday Campaign in support of two memorial funds that were established in honor of two former administrative leaders of the college – former Vice President for Administration, Planning & Finance, Granville Scott Anderson and former Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Sadie Bragg.

CUNY recently approved the naming of the terrace located on the 14th floor of Miles and Shirley Fiterman Hall, in Anderson’s name. The original Fiterman Hall was destroyed as a result of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and rebuilt with an expanded focus, including a dedicated rooftop terrace, located on the 14th floor, which serves as an event space for conferences, meetings and celebrations. CUNY also approved the naming of the mathematics lab, located in the 199 Chambers Street Building, in Bragg’s name. A champion of mathematics and tutoring, Bragg was an advocate for providing an equitable and quality education to students.

In 2020, BMCC is concentrating its #CUNYTuesday fundraising efforts in support of programs to fight food insecurity.

The Panther Pantry, which is managed by the BMCC Advocacy and Resources Center (BARC) (formerly known as Single Stop) opened in April 2018 and has served thousands of BMCC students. The pantry program helps students who face a food emergency and connects them with a BARC staff member who accesses their needs and provides guidance to help students find resources to a variety of services. Eligible students can take home a three-day supply of nutritionally balanced, nonperishable food for up to three family members.

BMCC’s fight against food insecurity recently expanded through the partnership with Feed the Frontlines NYC, a pilot program that is providing restaurant-quality meals to students facing food insecurity. The meals are delivered fresh and are available to BMCC students once a week.

Feed the Frontlines NYC was founded on March 21, 2020 by restaurateur Luca Di Pietro and his family—founders of the Tarallucci e Vino restaurant group. Its dual mission began by helping healthcare workers battling the pandemic in the city’s overwhelmed hospitals, while trying to keep the lights on and staff employed at as many local restaurants as possible. The partnership with BMCC is Feed the Frontlines NYC’s first partnership with a college or university.

Funds received from the 2020 #CUNYTuesday Campaign will support the college’s collective efforts to address food insecurity for BMCC students. Donations can be made by visiting: www.cunytuesday.org.

Individuals who support BMCC through the #CUNYTuesday Campaign can also serve as a BMCC Champion and help boost donations to the college. To find out how, contact Yaritza Gonzalez, Manager of Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund, at ygonzalez@bmcc.cuny.edu.