Queens Community Comes Together to “Meet the Moment” for Students

QUnited is visible proof of the dedication to making education accessible — to pursuing excellence in all we do. It is a powerful reminder that when Royals come together, students benefit in meaningful and lasting ways.

Over the course of two weeks, alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and students united to support the students who call Queens University home today.

“The Queens community stepped up with incredible generosity and spirit,” said Dr. Lori Ann Summers, Vice President of University Advancement. “QUnited is more than a fundraising campaign. It is a celebration of community, connection, and investment in the future of Queens.”

The campaign highlighted the role the Queens Fund and Royals Club play in our campus success, fueling scholarships, providing flexibility, and empowering students and faculty.

Even as the university enters a new chapter in our merger with Elon University, this year’s results reflect strong participation across the Queens community, with 514 donors raising more than $510,000. Among those contributors were 87 first-time donors; their enthusiasm and investment brought renewed energy to the annual tradition.

Generosity came from all corners of the Queens family:

• 250 alumni gave back, raising nearly $150,000 in support of students.
• 104 friends of the university contributed more than $200,000 — the largest giving total by donor type.
• 32 faculty and staff members supported the cause with gifts totaling nearly $6,000.
• 30 students participated, demonstrating the next generation’s commitment to their community.
• The median gift size was $103, and the average was over $1,100, evidence of the power in our unity.

In a time of transition for Queens, this collective support provides current-use resources, with dollars going where they are needed most: student experiences today.

QUnited’s momentum was boosted by surprise matching challenges designed to encourage participation and increase impact. Both major matches, the $50,000 Undergraduate Alumni Trustee Challenge and the $25,000 Graduate Alumni Trustee Challenge, were successfully completed, doubling the power of alumni gifts.

More than 100 donors were celebrated on campus with signage featuring their names after being among the first to give $100 or more to the Queens Fund or Royals Club.

Danielle Coney ’16, Jasmyn Lindsay ’16 MBA ’20, and Samantha Martinez ’16 joined anonymous graduates from the 1980s and 2001 to challenge classmates across decades, encouraging increased alumni participation throughout the campaign.

These challenges created friendly competition and served as catalysts for giving, inviting alumni and graduate alumni to rally behind their peers and make every dollar go further.

Every contribution sends a message to students: you matter, and your community stands behind you.

“The collective support we saw during QUnited reminds our students they are not alone,” said Aimee Miller, Director of the Queens Fund. “It’s a testament to how much Royals care about each other and about the future.”

Thank you to everyone who gave, shared, and encouraged others to participate. Together, we truly met the moment and helped expand the possibilities for every student at Queens.

Miller added, “If you missed the fun, don’t worry! Our giving year ends on June 30. You still have time to make a difference for students this academic year.”

Cover photo: Queens alumni who work on campus celebrated QUnited together.