For many members of the Columbia Business School community, the story begins with a door opening. A professor who challenged them, a classmate who pushed them forward, a recruiter who took a chance. For Leon Cooperman ’67, these moments of access shaped a lifelong trajectory and inspired his commitment to helping future students find their own opportunities.
Cooperman often reflects on how his education changed the course of his life. He and his wife, Toby, both studied at Hunter College for just $24 per semester, a cost that made higher education possible for their family. After graduation, he went on to work at Xerox, determined to grow into new roles and broaden his future. While there, he took on another challenge, pursuing his MBA.
Toby encouraged Lee to step away from work and commit fully to his education while she supported the family. That leap of faith allowed Cooperman to complete his degree and build the career that followed.
Today, he knows that the path he and Toby took would be far more difficult. Tuition and living expenses have increased, and most families could not support a student on a single teacher’s salary. Their planned gift to Columbia is rooted in this personal history. It is their way of helping future students who simply need a little support to seize an opportunity that could transform their lives.
Cooperman is not alone. Nearly two years after he encouraged fellow alumni to consider including Columbia in their estate plans, more than 40 alumni and friends have made estate and trust commitments. Their decisions reflect a shared belief in the School’s mission and a desire to strengthen the CBS community for generations to come. In recognition of their commitment, these individuals have been welcomed into the 1754 Society, Columbia’s legacy society recognizing alumni and friends who choose to shape the University’s future through their wills, trusts, or other estate plans.
Joining the 1754 Society can be as simple as notifying Columbia that you have included the University in your will or living trust; named Columbia as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy; established Columbia as a beneficiary of a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust; or designated Columbia to receive a portion of an existing trust or financial plan. In doing so, you join a robust community of forward-thinking individuals and enjoy special access to unique Columbia opportunities and experiences.
For Cooperman, the decision to make a planned gift is not just about giving back. It is about honoring the support he once received and ensuring that the next generation of CBS students has the same chance to push forward, take risks, and build meaningful lives.
If you would like to explore how a will, trust, or other gift planning strategy can empower future CBS students, please contact Ryan Hart, executive director of gift planning, at 212-851-2113 or [email protected].