Lofty Elm Society

“By lofty elm trees shaded round, Tioughnioga near; Our grand old Cortland College stands, To all of us how dear.”

The Lofty Elm Society honors those who have remembered Cortland in their wills or through planned gifts.

The importance of these future gifts in support of the College cannot be underestimated.

Beyond the satisfaction of positively impacting future generations of Cortland students, members of the Lofty Elm Society will also receive invitations to special events and annual recognition in College publications.

Their generosity will also be acknowledged with a beautiful Lofty Elm Society lapel pin recognizing their commitment to their alma mater.

The society receives its name from the first verse in the Alma Mater which was written a century ago when many Elm trees surrounded the Cortland Normal School in its former location in downtown Cortland.

Today many majestic “lofty” elm trees continue to grace the College around Old Main, Brockway Hall and the Miller Building.

An Invitation to Join the Lofty Elm Society

Members of the Lofty Elm Society have expressed their commitment to the Cortland College Foundation through a very special and important form of financial support.

These donors have named SUNY Cortland through the Cortland College Foundation as the ultimate beneficiary of a planned gift. Such gifts might include a bequest and/or charitable income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, charitable remainder annuity trusts, or gifts of life insurance.

Once you complete your estate plans, please fill out our member profile form to let us know. We would like to thank you for your generosity by including you in the Lofty Elm Society.

Membership Benefits

Your membership involves no dues, obligations, or solicitations, but it does allow us to thank you and recognize you for the plans you have made, and it may inspire generosity in others.

Benefits of membership in the Lofty Elm Society also include annual luncheons, invitations to special events and seminars and a subscription to our newsletter.

The most important benefit, however, you will receive from joining the Lofty Elm Society is the satisfaction derived from making a lasting contribution to our long-term prosperity.