Members of the Fordham University community celebrated the achievements of Fordham Founder’s Scholarship recipients, and the generosity of their benefactors, at the university’s annual Founder’s Dinner. The March 18 event at the Hell’s Kitchen Glasshouse, overlooking the Hudson River and Intrepid Museums, marked the 22nd consecutive fundraiser for which donors have contributed to the Fordham Founder’s Undergraduate Scholarship Fund. This year’s supporters raised over $2.5 million for 48 Fordham Founder’s Scholars, living up to the dinner’s 2024 theme of “Transforming Our World.” “This is a spectacular event because it encourages so much money to go towards scholarships for students,” said President Tania Tetlow, who marked her second Founder’s Dinner attendance. “Events like these remind our Fordham alumni and top supporters of the joys of paying their opportunities forward.”
“Fordham students know how to work hard and play hard,” said emcee and NBC 4 NY’s Lauren Scala, FCRH ’04. She introduced 2024 Fordham Founder’s Scholar Speaker Benjamin Coco, FCRH ’23 and ’24, whose speech was inspired by 2023 Founder’s Awardee Thomas Lamberti, FCRH ’52. Coco gratefully addressed the attendees on behalf of his fellow Founder’s Scholarship recipients. “Just as you have transformed our worlds, we are ready to go out and transform this world, for the better, for the magis,” he closed, noting the relentless Jesuit pursuit of excellence.
Coco detailed the opportunities that the Founder’s Scholarship created for him, referencing his ability to avoid student debt while conducting fifth-year research across universities, developing a new Quantum Computing course and fostering connections through Campus Ministry. Dr. Joan Cavanagh, Campus Ministry’s senior director for spirituality and solidarity, later said, “It’s very exciting that this brings together the whole Ramily of families, students, alums and benefactors that give Fordham so much energy.” Career Center Director Annette McLaughlin concurred that she finds the pupils motivational. “I’m always very amazed at and inspired by what our students accomplish,” McLaughlin said. “They’re what keeps me going at work.”
The dinner also honored the 2024 Fordham Founder’s Award recipients John L. Lumelleau, FCRH ’74, Loretta Franklin Lumelleau, Robert J. O’Shea, GSB ’87, and Michele K. O’Shea, FCRH ’88, who collectively addressed the audience sampling their grilled peach salads and braised short ribs. As with all prior Founder’s Awardees, the quartet were selected in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the university and their exceptional achievements in their professional careers. “Fordham has always been there in my life. I grew up in its shadow,” said John L. Lumelleau, who has contributed to Fordham’s athletic programs, namely football and the Student Emergency Fund. Since 2018, he has served on Fordham’s Board of Trustees. “Fordham has always done impressive work helping to educate those with fewer opportunities than others. We come here tonight with purpose. There is more to be done and there is always more to come. The Rams of yesterday stand with the Rams of today and look forward to the Rams of tomorrow.”
Director Michael Gatto of the O’Shea Center for Credit Analysis and Investment introduced his longtime friend Robert O’Shea, who donated the eponymous establishment. Gatto feigned being the real Founder’s Award recipient to many laughs before introducing the O’Sheas. “Fordham students don’t make excuses of the obstacles they have to overcome. They have the will to run through a brick wall to get the job done,” Gatto said, citing the Rams’ culture of respect and compassion as traits exemplified by the O’Sheas. “We have deep gratitude for being given the opportunity to go to Fordham,” said O’Shea, on behalf of his wife and himself. “Tonight is about scholarships. As you all know, scholarships provide the opportunity for students to receive a Fordham education. We are all here, united by the desire to help Fordham students have the opportunity to receive an outstanding education.” O’Shea, who was a Trustee Board member from 2006-12, and has supported Career Services, track and field and other athletics teams, shared his own Fordham beginnings. He thanked his former track and field coach Tom Dewey, who was in attendance and had given O’Shea the scholarship that enabled his family to send him to Fordham. O’Shea also highlighted the track and field athletes who made room in their dorm for him to move in with them. “Talk about being ‘men in the service of these others,’” he joked.
In attendance were three of those teammates who O’Shea moved in with. “Rob was a smart guy with common sense — we had a lot of fun and good times,” said Kevin Kelly, FCRH ’84, at the end of the night. “To be back to acknowledge his accomplishments and commitment to Fordham, it’s been great,” said Colonel Christopher Weimar, FCRH ’85. “It’s kind of like the movie reel has been fast-forwarded — this brings back memories of when we were together. We saw this amazing individual when he was a freshman and competitor, and look what he’s accomplished. We feel really proud to still be a part of that and his friends along the way.” Tim Marshall, FCRH ’86, added, “Good guy then. Good guy now.”
Lori Cruz Doty is a Fordham parent and is in her first year as a Fordham Trustee. “I wanted to give my kids a bigger experience than I had. I told them, ‘go far away, you can always come home’ but now they found a new home at Fordham.” She emphasized the importance of giving back so other students can have the same chance. Junior Scholars Dillon Delatorre, GSB ’25, and Michael Bello, GSB ’25, enjoyed the event. “I’m excited about the food,” said Delatorre, “but I’m so thankful to be a scholar. It means the world. They’ve granted me access to new areas of mine and changed it for the best.” Bello added, “I’m grateful to be here and meet the donors who’ve supported me and to engage with Founders who’re sponsoring my education and financing factors that’d otherwise deter me from being a student.”
“Tonight meant the world to my family and I. Fordham has a special place in our hearts,” O’Shea said at the dinner’s afterparty. “Fordham truly is the university offering opportunities to change the world. Michele and I have felt that from our time there over 40 years ago. We love the saying, ‘Go forth and set the world on fire.’ So to all our beneficiaries, do that in the best ways.”
“In the hearts of so many young people is a burning fire of ambition that is stoked by the dream of success and making the most in their lives,” Coco wrote to donors before the dinner. “By making higher education opportunities more accessible to more Fordham students, you are turning people’s life stories from ‘could’ve been, would’ve been and should’ve been’ to stories of will.”
