Gift Helps Education & Business Schools, Athletics and Hartford Students
From the winter 2008 issue of UConn Momentum
A new leadership campaign gift from Roger ’65 and Marjory Cohen ’66 Gelfenbien will build on three scholarship funds the couple established during Campaign UConn and create a new scholarship for accounting students in the School of Business.
Roger Gelfenbien served on the UConn Foundation’s board from 1992 to 1997, and also served as chairman. He was the chairman of the UConn Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2003. In April, the UConn Board of Trustees renamed the Towers Dining Hall in Storrs in honor of Gelfenbien’s service. Under his leadership, the University launched its first major fundraising initiative in more than a decade.
Mr. Gelfenbien says that such campaigns have had a transformative impact on the institution.
“Capital campaigns separate a good school from the very best schools,” he says. “UConn has always been great, but we’ve become better now that we’ve attracted private giving. Our friends understand that without their support we cannot achieve our ultimate dream.”
The existing Gelfenbien funds support students on the women’s soccer team, in the Neag School of Education and from the Hartford school system, where Mr. Gelfenbien himself was a student. Marjory Gelfenbien graduated from UConn’s Neag School of Education, and the couple’s daughter, Jill ’95 (SFS), played soccer and women’s basketball for the University.
“I look at myself, coming out of the south end of Hartford and being able to accomplish what I have. I couldn’t have done it without UConn,” says Mr. Gelfenbien, who retired as the managing partner of the Hartford office of Accenture, a global management consulting company. “My passion is helping young people from Hartford. So many students need just a little bit of help, and if they get that help, their future is so much brighter.”
“Roger is really one of the special graduates of our accounting program,” says Mohammed Hussein, accounting department head. “Throughout his career, Roger has been a leader across the entire state. He understands the needs of our students. The value of the Gelfenbien Family scholarships is that they give opportunities to young people who might not otherwise be able to continue their education. And it provides their families with peace of mind, taking away some of the worry about where they will find the money for higher education.”
Through philanthropy, Gelfenbien says the potential for both students and the University is nearly limitless.
“I think it’s impossible to count the benefits that private giving offers to students who receive scholarships. Maybe someone who we’ve helped finds a cure for cancer. Or becomes president. You just can’t measure it,” he says.
From his strategic view of the University itself, Gelfenbien sees similar potential.
“What I’ve always told people is ‘shame on us’ if we don’t become one of the best universities in the country,” he says. “When you take the base of support given us through UCONN 2000 and then leverage the private support on top, nothing can stop us. People will tell you that we can’t be in the top ten. I don’t know why not.”
“Margie and I have been blessed to be able to give back. My feeling is that if you can step up, step up. There have been so many people who have done just that. If we all do our share, it will make a huge difference to this university.”
To contribute to the Gelfenbien scholarships, please contact John Martin at 860.486.2709 or by e-mail.
