Friends of Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh enjoyed celebrating the 12th annual Gala Reception in person Friday, Dec. 10, which honored three outstanding members of the local community and raised more than $153,000, which will be used to support the Annual Gala Endowed Scholarship Fund.
“A lot of our students live on the margin,” said Dr. Jason N. Adsit, president of the Mount. Small amounts of money, “$100, $200, even $50, can throw off their entire education. To see $153,000 raised by you amazing people goes a long way to helping first-generation students and students living on the margin to achieve their dreams. This is real, this has an impact and this matters.”
Michael J. Quinn, president and CEO of Rhinebeck Bank, and Nick Citera and Nicolas DiBrizzi of Cosimo”™s Restaurant Group, were honored with the Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence.
Nikki Khurana-Baugh, vice president for advancement at the Mount, noted that the college contributes about $21 million annually back to students in the form of aid and 88% of Mount students are dependent on financial aid. “The outpouring of support has truly been inspirational,” she said. At $153,000 in donations, “This is by far the most money we have raised at a gala.”