Stony Brook University Back the Brook 24-Hour Student Activities Fundraiser Set for November 19

Crowdfunding to Provide Support for Clubs, Organizations and Athletic Programs

STONY BROOK, NY - November 13, 2025 - The State University of New York at Stony Brook community will unite on Wednesday, November 19, for the inaugural Back the Brook, a 24-hour crowdfunding initiative that is designed to support the university's student clubs, organizations and athletic programs. Gifts can be made here. The university has set a goal of receiving 500 unique donations.

In this initiative's first year, 22 student clubs and organizations, along with Stony Brook's 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, have chosen to participate in "Back the Brook," with each group providing specific goals for how increased philanthropic support will enhance their programs. While many of Stony Brook's clubs and organizations are allocated funds from the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), their budgets do not always fully cover the cost of hosting events and competitions on campus, equipment or travel for off-campus activities.

To give student groups and teams their best chance to succeed, Back the Brook has been established to provide alumni, students, faculty, staff, family and friends with the opportunity to directly impact these Seawolves and their goals with gifts that can be made to specific programs that donors find meaningful. The various groups that supporters can impact include club sports, community awareness & service clubs, cultural clubs, engineering clubs and athletics.

Thanks to the generosity of the Stony Brook community and Alumni Association, approximately $35,000 in matching funds and challenges will be available to amplify gifts made during Back the Brook including bonus funding for the top three student groups with the most unique donors during the 24-hour event.

Back the Brook's early giving period is now open online for donors wanting to show their support before November 19. An anonymous supporter has issued a challenge to kick-start these initiatives in the weeks leading up the Back the Brook. The top three participating groups or teams with the most unique supporters between now and 11:59 pm on November 18 will split $1,500 in bonus funds. Additional matches and challenges will be announced on November 19, 2025, on the Back the Brook website.

"Back the Brook reflects the very essence of Stony Brook, a community that leads with generosity and heart," said USG President Sarah Elbaroudy. "Every gift strengthens the foundation of student life, empowering Seawolves to lead, create and inspire change. Through giving, we affirm our shared belief that Stony Brook's greatest legacy is its people - a community united by purpose, pride and possibility."

On November 19, Stony Brook's Advancement team will host an in-person celebration from noon to 2 pm at the Student Activities Center Shore Club and the Union Lobby where a DJ, free food, activities and t-shirts will be given away. Seniors can receive their generosity cords by donating ($10.25 for 2025 seniors and $10.26 for 2026 seniors).

Back the Brook is the first of the university's two crowdfunding events, which will be followed by next spring's annual "Giving Day," on March 25, 2026, which is also led by Stony Brook University Advancement.

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About The State University of New York at Stony Brook

The State University of New York at Stony Brook is New York's flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 27,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 225,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world's biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #59 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook's membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university's distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal and Breakthrough Prizes in Mathematics and Physics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy - one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/ and X@stonybrooku.