The County College of Morris announced Tuesday the largest private gift the college has ever received.
The gift of $976,000, from the estate of Dominic Bencivenga and Catherine Bencivenga, brings the family’s total giving to the college to more than $1 million, the college said, which is the largest gift ever in its history.
The gift, in memory of the pair’s children, Gary Bencivenga and Cathy Jo Bencivenga, will directly provide scholarships to the college’s nursing students.
Beverly Brown, the trustee of the Bencivenga estate, said that “Gary and Cathy Jo attended CCM and Dominic and Catherine sought to provide a legacy in their children’s honor. Catherine was a registered nurse at Dover General Hospital and took great pride in how the nursing program has become one of the most sought after majors at CCM. Dominic and Catherine always viewed CCM as a philanthropic priority and in their planning for when they were no longer here, CCM was the place they knew their gift would have a lasting impact.”
Dr. Anthony Iacono, president of CMM, expressed gratitude toward the family for their commitment to the college and its nursing program.
“The Gary and Cathy Jo Bencivenga Memorial Scholarship is vital to our students’ success in completing their nursing degrees. As a leader in health and allied sciences, CCM prepares students to go on to achieve extraordinary achievements in nursing at some of the finest medical institutions throughout the State of New Jersey and nationally. This gift, the largest private gift ever received at CCM, underwrites the futures of the students who seek to solidify their career in serving their communities, Iacono said.
The CCM Foundation, which was notified of the gift, is dedicated to raising funds for the college to support programs, scholarships, staff development and other projects that are not funded through tuition and public support.
“The CCM Foundation has been the cornerstone of philanthropic giving to the County College of Morris. Today, through this historic gift from the Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Bencivenga, we are positioned to begin our 50th Anniversary celebrations with strength and gratitude for all who have come before us and for all who will join our efforts in offering CCM the support it needs to fulfill its mission,” said William McElroy, chair of the CCM Foundation board of directors.
