How Donor Generosity Is Shaping the Future at FDU An Evening of Impact
Alumni, donors, students, and friends of Fairleigh Dickinson University gathered at Lenfell Hall in Hennessy Hall on the Florham Campus for the 2026 Evening of Impact, a celebration of philanthropy in action and the students whose lives are being transformed.
Opening the evening, University President Michael Avaltroni welcomed a room filled with alumni, donors, families, faculty, and students, each united by a shared belief in access, opportunity, and student success.
He grounded the evening in impact. Nearly 5,500 students received donor-funded scholarships this past academic year. Nearly $2 million was awarded in private and endowed scholarships this past fall alone. More than 3,500 donors, alumni, and friends came together to invest in FDU students.
“This is what collective giving looks like,” said Avaltroni.
Throughout the room were scholarship recipients, the direct reflection of that generosity.
Elizabeth Saccoliti shared the story behind the Nicholas Saccoliti Memorial Scholarship, created in honor of her brother, a graduate whose kindness, resilience, and spirit left a lasting mark on the FDU community.
“For our family, this scholarship ensures that Nick’s legacy lives on through opportunity, community, and the students who carry these values forward,” she said.
The impact of donor support shone through student speaker Alicia Flechas, a senior nursing major on FDU’s Metropolitan Campus.
Through hands-on clinical experiences in high-intensity healthcare settings, Alicia has already begun the work she feels called to do, caring for patients in their most critical moments. With aspirations to become a flight nurse, she represents the next generation of healthcare professionals prepared to lead with both skill and compassion.
Her journey has been made possible, in large part, by donor support.
“Receiving this scholarship has relieved financial stress and allowed me to fully focus on my education, leadership roles, and clinical experiences,” she said. “You are not just supporting my education, you are supporting my future patients and the care I will one day provide.”
As the evening concluded, President Avaltroni brought the message into sharp focus.
“Because of donor generosity, a student stays enrolled. A future nurse gains confidence at a patient’s bedside. A first-generation student sees a path forward,” said Avaltroni. “This impact is immediate, personal, and life-changing.”
