Three months after the official dedication ceremony on Oct. 15, 2014, the Raymond Kelly ’63 Student Commons is approximately $1.9 million dollars away from its $45 million dollar goal. Manhattan College has raised an additional approximation of $400,000 dollars October of 2014.

“We are getting smaller gifts now in the $5,000 to $25,000 range, so obviously it takes more gifts and more meetings with alumni to move the bottom line,” Thomas Mauriello, vice president for college advancement, said. “Nevertheless we are still getting many gifts.”

Since the fundraising campaign has been ongoing for several years, the college is no longer receiving six figure gifts towards the Kelly Commons.

“Large, major gifts typically come at the beginning of campaigns, and toward the end you rely on smaller contributions,” Mauriello said. “All of the donors will be recognized in the final version of the donor plaque at the entrance of the building at the conclusion of the campaign.”

Fundraising events, like the De La Salle Dinner, used to raise funds for financial aide and scholarships, will not be held to collect the remaining capital needed for the Kelly Commons.

“As we have done up to this point, we will continue to directly solicit individuals for the remainder of campaign,” Stephen White, director of development, said.

Mauriello said that MC should still reach its $45 million dollar goal for the Kelly Commons by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2015. While fundraising is still underway, President Brennan O’Donnell has noticed the positive impact the building has made upon the MC community.

“All of the response I’ve heard from students, faculty, alumni and donors has been enthusiastically positive,” O’Donnell said. “I’m especially happy with student comments to the effect that they feel that the building is theirs, that is, that it was programmed and built with their needs at the center and that they feel at home in the building.”

If all goes according to plan, in less than six months, MC should reach its goal of $45 million towards the Kelly Commons.