Giving back to universities is a powerful way to expand access to educational opportunities, support vital research and strengthen faculty and infrastructure.
Cornell University was founded on the principle of doing the greatest good for society. The phrase “to do the greatest good” was used by Ezra Cornell when he addressed the New York State Legislature in 1865 as part of the university’s founding vision. Today, Cornell continues to honor that legacy through its “To Do the Greatest Good” campaign.
This fundraising campaign aims to raise at least $5 billion for the university by 2026. As part of that effort, the Dimond family has endowed $13 million to fund scholarships for students at the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration.
Ahead, we share how the Dimond family’s gift will create a lasting impact at Cornell and how Robert F. Smith has made a similar mark through his support of the university.
How the Dimond Family’s Gift Will Support Cornell Students
Rita and Navin Dimond’s daughters, Ashley and Sonja, are both alumni of Cornell’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, graduating in 2014 and 2019, respectively. Their desire to extend educational opportunities to future students is grounded in a belief in the transformative power of education. The family’s gift will support future hospitality students, particularly first-generation students.
A portion of the gift went toward Cornell’s Undergraduate Affordability Initiative, which was matched through the university’s affordability challenge match program. This increased the total impact of the gift from $10.5 million to $13 million. In recognition of their generosity, the Nolan School’s deanship was named the Dimond Family Dean of the Nolan Hotel School.
How Robert F. Smith Has Helped to Do the Greatest Good for Students
In the Cornellian spirit of doing the greatest good, Smith has also made transformative gifts to Cornell University, where he earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. In 2016, Smith made a $20 million donation to Cornell University’s College of Engineering and another $10 million in Tech Scholars scholarships.
To recognize Smith’s support of Cornell, the university renamed its engineering school the Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Smith has since continued to support Cornell students. In 2022, he made a $15 million donation to establish three new funds at Cornell:
- Robert F. Smith Undergraduate Scholarship Fund
- Robert F. Smith Graduate Fellowship Fund
- Robert F. Smith Student Success Fund
“My hope is that these funds will elevate more students and afford them the opportunity to attend my alma mater and pursue careers in STEM, as well as continue to support the diverse pipeline of extraordinary talent that Cornell produces,” said Smith.
Learn more about how Smith’s philanthropy supports students of Cornell by following him on LinkedIn.
