Ithaca College

Al and Jo-Linda Greene are making a generous $100,000 gift to the athletics and events center. The Greenes’ lives were profoundly affected by their time at Ithaca. They earned undergraduate degrees in 1971, and South Hill is also the place where the couple met and began their lives together. “The truth is, we owe this to Ithaca,” says Al Greene.

Although they live in Southern California, Al Greene ’71 and Jo-Linda Anderson Greene ’71 feel very close to Ithaca College. One indication of their devotion is the generous $100,000 gift they are making to the new athletics and events center. “Ithaca really shaped our lives,” said Al. “The academics provided the foundation for our careers, and the overall experience prepared us for a wonderful life. But most important of all, Ithaca College brought us together.”

Indeed, during their time at IC the Greenes established the groundwork for their future. They met in their senior year, when Jo was a physical education major and Al was a psychology student. After completing their undergraduate degrees, Jo went to the State University of New York at Brockport to study adapted physical education, and Al headed to the University of Michigan for a master’s degree in hospital administration. Landing at larger schools helped to put their Ithaca experiences in perspective. “The university setting was impersonal and cool,” Al said. “Nothing like what we knew at Ithaca.”

The Greenes often come back to campus for Alumni Weekend. They are pleased by the College’s growth, but note that one important thing hasn’t changed. “This has always been an intimate place,” Jo said. “And it still is today.”

The Greenes’ gift for the new athletics and events center is very personal. Jo played on the varsity tennis and volleyball teams, and Al was a rower with the men’s crew.

Al and Jo downplay the magnitude of their generous contribution. “The gift is advantageous to us, too,” said Al. “We are giving appreciated stock, which means we get credit for the full value without having to pay capital gains taxes. We also realize additional savings on our California state taxes. The contributions are spread over five years, and, of course, it’s a gift from two IC grads.” He continued, “Thanks to the way it’s arranged, it’s not that much of a sacrifice. And the truth is, we feel we owe this to Ithaca.”

Ithaca’s planned giving website has information on many creative ways to structure gifts to the Campaign for Ithaca College.