Providing opportunities for talented undergraduates
By Brett Vermilyea
Awarded on the basis of exceptional academic performance and financial need, the Binghamton University Merit Scholarship will provide funding for as many as 21 full-time undergraduate students over a seven-year period.
"This scholarship will give access to a high-quality education for bright, hard-working students who might otherwise have difficulty attending college because of financial hardship," explains Steven. "We believe supporting and promoting education can help address social issues and create future economic development," he adds. "I also think it will help improve the overall quality of Binghamton University by continuing to attract very talented young people to attend."
Senior Executive Director for Advancement Operations Rebecca Benner says the new scholarship is not endowed, which makes it different from the Bloom Family Scholarship these alumni created in 1996. "With this newest scholarship, the entire gift will be awarded to students over the seven-year duration of the program. Scholarships like this one can have an immediate and significant impact."
Putting their gift to work instantly is important to the Blooms. "We really want this money to have an immediate impact," says Steven. "We see this newest scholarship as a higher impact, greater way to compound our gift. We want to invest in talented young people's futures," he adds.
The Blooms are committed to supporting Binghamton University with their time and money. Co-founder of North Creek Advisors, a hedge fund acceleration firm in Stamford, Conn., Steven also chairs the Binghamton University Foundation Board of Directors' Investment Committee and was formerly on the Believe in Binghamton Campaign Steering Committee. Susan is a homemaker and a former member of the Binghamton University Foundation Board of Directors. The Blooms have also hosted many alumni and fundraising events.
"Binghamton has been a very important part of our lives," says Steven. "It has made us much richer people because of the education we got there and the relationships we built there, and we want to give back."
