麻豆村

麻豆村 alumni Anthony Muscato and Paul Fonteyne have been co-chairing Class of 1987 fundraising efforts at Tepper School of Business for more than a decade.

In 2017, the Tepper School graduates and dedicated annual giving contributors spearheaded a class campaign to fundraise to name a space in the new Tepper Quad building. As a result of their leadership, the class banded together to generously name the Class of 1987 Collaboration Space.

More recently, Anthony, Paul and their 10-person outreach committee have been successfully raising funds to endow the Class of 1987 Fellowship. This gift commemorates the class鈥檚 35th reunion that was celebrated earlier this year.

Each year, it will support a rising second year MBA student who has discovered an innovative technique toward solving a significant problem.

Anthony and Paul earned master鈥檚 degrees in industrial administration from the Tepper School.

鈥淐oming to Tepper was part of my journey of pursuing excellence,鈥� says Anthony, who is a board member and adviser in the private equity arena after years as CEO. 鈥淚t prepares you for anything. It taught me problem-solving skills; forged a great experience and lifelong network; and was financially rewarding. It, frankly, helped me build a legacy.鈥�

鈥淧aul and I want to help others build their careers, giving back so they, too, can build legacies. The school changes lives. It creates opportunity, not just personally, professionally and financially, but in so many other ways.鈥�

鈥淭epper was highly transformational in my life,鈥� says Paul, a former chairman and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim USA who is now with venture capital firm Canaan. He also serves as a board member and adviser to various organizations and on the Business Board of Advisors. 鈥淚鈥檓 convinced I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do the things that I did, including leading large enterprises and groups of people, without that experience.鈥�

The fellowship is a tangible and meaningful way for the class to 鈥減ay it forward.鈥�

鈥淭his class gift is special in that we鈥檙e creating a rolling legacy that helps a deserving individual to advance each and every year,鈥� Paul says. 鈥淚mportantly, we can continually add to it and make it more powerful.鈥�

鈥淓ndowed fellowships like these are critical in attracting and retaining a highly talented and diverse student body,鈥� says Steve Schultz, associate director of annual giving at Tepper School of Business and committee liaison. 鈥淭hey help ensure that the most qualified students have access to an education that will prepare them to become successful business leaders.鈥�

The small class has remained 鈥渧ery close鈥� over the years, maintaining strong, personal friendships and enjoying reunions.

鈥淢any of us keep in touch regularly,鈥� Anthony says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e helped each other throughout that 35 years with careers, family and more. Reunions are a good way to stay connected, both with classmates and professors.鈥�

鈥淩eunions let me see how the school continues to evolve, reconnect with folks,鈥� Paul says. 鈥淚鈥檝e attended almost all of them.鈥�