Brad Butwin ’85 is passing the baton to new leadership after guiding the Fordham Law community to exceptional heights of generosity. In 2014, Butwin stepped up to chair the Law School’s $25 million Dean’s Scholars Initiative, a campaign for financial aid. Under his leadership, the philanthropic drive to bolster Fordham Law’s financial aid offerings ultimately achieved more than $37 million in donor support.
As momentum grew, the Law School widened its fundraising goals beyond financial aid, and Butwin led Fordham into FORWARD: The Campaign for the Fordham Law Experience. His leadership was instrumental in bringing the entire Law School community to the table and challenging stakeholders to invest in the next generation of legal talent.
Thanks to Butwin’s stewardship and the tremendous generosity of donors, more than $85 million has been raised to date. After achieving this remarkable level of success and engagement, Butwin is stepping aside to create opportunities for new leaders. He will remain an active member of the Dean’s Planning Council.
“Dean Diller, the Fordham Law faculty, and benefactors have continually outdone themselves,” Butwin said. “It has been an honor to witness the generosity of the Fordham Law community.”
The campaign will now transition to a new leadership structure that will engage a broad range of alumni, especially more recent Law School graduates. Sharon L. McCarthy ’89 and Brian J. McCarthy ’78 will co-chair the campaign. The campaign will also tap the expertise of Laurie Berke-Weiss ’83, who will lead the Fordham Law Alumni Association committee. In addition, the campaign leadership will include Elizabeth R. Moore ’18 and Abigail Urquhart ’14, co-chairs of the Next Generation Committee. Moreover, the DPC will launch a campaign committee.
Leo Greenberg ‘05
Fellow
Michael Aaronson ‘20
Fellow
Lillian Rosenbaum
Gabriner ‘25 Fellow
Leo Greenberg ‘05
Fellow
Michael Aaronson ‘20
Fellow
Lillian Rosenbaum
Gabriner ‘25 Fellow
Of the $85 million raised in support of the FORWARD campaign, $42 million has been designated for student scholarships and public service fellowships. Thanks to the generosity of donors, 50 endowed scholarships and fellowships have been founded since the start of the campaign. In the past year alone, the Law School has received more than $1 million in new commitments for financial aid and fellowships thanks in part to lead gifts from Joseph M. Cassin ’67, John (Jack) Kelly ’21, and an anonymous donor.
“Fordham Law School changed the trajectory of my life. Investing in future Fordham lawyers through the creation of an endowed scholarship is just one way I am able to give back to an institution that has given me so much,” said Cassin.
Moreover, three new fellowships have been established thanks to the generosity of Leo Greenberg ’05; the family of the late Michael Aaronson ’20 and his colleagues at Norton Rose; and Peter Friedman, grandson of Lillian Rosenbaum Gabriner ’25. Thanks to their philanthropic support, Eleeysa Cordes ’23, Peter Angelica ’23, and Zandra Cuevas ’22 will be engaged in important public service work at nonprofit organizations or government agencies this summer.
“I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of members of the Fordham Law community who have provided these crucial resources for students to deepen their education through research and obtain hands-on training and experiences that will prepare them to be leaders in our profession,” said Dean Matthew Diller.