Community Giving

Ithaca College’s long history is brimming with dedicated neighbors and generous local organizations that have helped the college and its students succeed.

This commitment is perhaps best embodied by the community members who encompass the Friends of Ithaca College donor society, which was established as an effort by local community members to fundraise for the college as it contended with financial challenges in the 1960s.

Members of the Friends of Ithaca College live and work in Tompkins County and its contiguous counties. Some give to the Friends of Ithaca College Scholarship, a fund that enables outstanding local students to attend IC. Others support the general IC Annual Fund or contribute to individual schools, programs, departments, or other aspects of the IC experience.

“As someone who loves both the college and the Ithaca community, I can’t imagine not supporting IC!”

JERRY DIETZ ’75

The Friends of Ithaca College group is led by a dedicated executive committee: Tam Warren, Laurie Linn, and Jerry Dietz ’75, parent ’10.

Tam Warren

Tam Warren, president of the Friends of Ithaca College and regional vice president of Warren Real Estate, became involved with the society after contributing to the Friends of Ithaca College Scholarship. “Contributing to a scholarship that helps local students attend IC is something I’m very proud of, Tam shares. “My brother is an IC alumnus, and I am a business owner in the community, making my commitment to Ithaca College that much more meaningful.”

Laurie Linn

Laurie Linn, president of integrated marketing company Communique D&M Inc., says she chooses to make supporting the college a priority because of the “academic rigor, the exceptional IC students who enter the workforce, and the positive impact IC has on the Ithaca community.” Laurie’s firm has benefitted greatly from hiring Ithaca College graduates as interns and employees over the years, and so it is important for her to give back to the college to show her appreciation and confidence in the value of an IC education.

Jerry Dietz

As an alumnus who stayed in Ithaca after graduation and today makes the city his home, CSP Management owner Jerry Dietz ’75 has always found the Friends of Ithaca College to be a compelling society. “The fact that the local community recognized the value that Ithaca College brought to the Ithaca community when it was in its infancy, and worked so hard to ensure its success, has always inspired me,” Jerry reflects. He says that his son, Robert, had an amazing four years in IC’s School of Music, and Jerry was so impressed by Robert’s experiences that he decided he wanted to be part of making sure that any student could have the same opportunities his son had.