(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – April 28, 2015) Alumnus David J. Mazzetti ’10 and his wife, Joy, have issued a $30,000 challenge as an incentive for others to participate in SUNY Empire State College’s 2015 24-Hour Giving Challenge set for tomorrow, April 29, midnight-11:59 p.m.

If the college is successful in attracting 400 donors within 24 hours, the gift from the Mazzettis to SUNY Empire will be realized.

Like last year’s inaugural 24-hour challenge, the one-day campaign will be conducted via telephone, email, social media and the college’s website.

The Mazzettis' challenge doubles 2014’s donor goal as a call to action meant to increase awareness of the college’s philanthropic efforts.

“SUNY Empire State College is a family affair for us,” said Mazzetti, when asked what inspired the 2015 giving challenge. “I have a degree from SUNY Empire, as do my father, John, and Joy’s father, Russ. Putting up a $30,000 challenge grant is just a small way to give back to the college for its impact on our family.”

Joy’s father, Russell Harris ’76, earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business, Management and Economics, and John Mazzetti ’93 earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Economics. David also is a member of the Empire State College Foundation Board of Directors.

“Meeting and, yes, exceeding the Mazzettis challenge of attracting 400 donors to SUNY Empire State College’s 24-hour giving challenge will not be easy, but I know we can achieve that ambitious goal,” said Merodie A. Hancock, president of the college.

The 2014 24-hour giving challenge exceeded its goal of attracting 200 donors in a single day.

“Last year the challenge built a true sense of excitement and community across the college and involved alumni, employees and friends,” said Hancock. “The effort was such a success that we decided to do it again.”

In addition to attracting donors, the Mazzettis commitment is part of SUNY Empire’s overall efforts to raise awareness about the importance of philanthropy for the future of the college, the communities it serves throughout the state and current and future students.

“I am very grateful to Dave and Joy for their generosity and their willingness to support the college’s statewide mission of providing greater access, increasing degree completion and fostering success for an adult and nontraditional student population,” Hancock added.

David J. Mazzetti ’10 earned a Bachelor of Science in Business, Management and Economics, with a concentration in finance. He is the president and founder of Mazzetti, Buscetto and Associates, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

He and Joy live in Wallkill and are the parents of four children, Reilly, Tamirat, Nia and Demisse.

About SUNY Empire State College

Empire State College, the nontraditional, open college of the SUNY system, educates more than 20,000 students worldwide at eight international sites, more than 35 locations in the state of New York, online, as well as face to face and through a blend of both, at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels.

The average age of an undergraduate student at the college is 35 and graduate students’ average age is 40.

Most Empire State College students are working adults. Many are raising families and meeting civic commitments in the communities where they live, while studying part time.

In addition to awarding credit for prior college-level learning, the college pairs each undergraduate student with a faculty mentor who supports that student throughout his or her college career.

Working with their mentors, students design an individual degree program and engage in guided independent study and course work onsite, online or through a combination of both, which provides the flexibility for students to choose where, when and how to learn.

Students have the opportunity to enroll five times during the year.

The college’s 73,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, nonprofit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more.

The college was first established in 1971 by the SUNY Board of Trustees with the encouragement of the late Ernest L. Boyer, chancellor of the SUNY system from 1970 to 1977.

Boyer also served as United States commissioner of education during the administration of President Jimmy Carter and then as president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

More information about the college is available at www.esc.edu.

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Media contact: David Henahan, director of communications, SUNY Empire State College

518-587-2100, ext. 2918

David.Henahan@esc.edu

518-321-7038 (after hours and on weekends)

Media contact: Gerald A. Griparich, marketing consultant, Mazzetti, Buscetto and Associates

845 454-3021

Gerald.Griparich@ampf.com