On Point for College Surpasses $8 Million in Historic $10 Million Fueling Futures Campaign

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — October 22, 2026 — On Point for College has surpassed $8 million toward its $10 million Fueling Futures campaign, reaching a major milestone in the largest fundraising effort in the organization’s 27-year history and setting the stage for the campaign’s public phase.

The campaign represents an unprecedented investment in On Point’s mission to help young people overcome barriers to higher education, complete their degrees and credentials, and move into meaningful careers. Fueling Futures will strengthen and expand the continuum of support On Point for College provides—from access to college and credentials, to education success support, to career planning and placement.

“This milestone represents far more than a fundraising achievement. It represents what our community believes is possible for our students,” said Samuel Rowser, Executive Director of On Point for College. “Reaching $8 million is an extraordinary vote of confidence in our students, in the work of our team, and in what can happen when a community invests in opportunity. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped bring us to this moment and energized by what the next phase of this campaign will make possible. We truly appreciate a community that continues to support our mission and helps us keep it On Point.”

Fueling Futures has already generated a level of philanthropic support unprecedented in On Point’s history, including the organization’s first seven-figure gifts, along with several five- and six-figure commitments. Together, those investments signal growing confidence not only in On Point’s model, but in the long-term value of expanding educational and career opportunities throughout Central New York and the Mohawk Valley.

That investment builds on more than two decades of measurable impact. On Point supports over 3,000 students annually and, to date, has helped 5,378 students graduate, earning 7,465 degrees. In addition, On Point’s workforce development programs are helping nearly 1,000 individuals find and access direct employment pathways.

Many of the young people On Point serves are low-income, first-generation college students who face barriers that can make navigating higher education especially difficult, including housing insecurity, refugee or immigrant status, foster care or court involvement, and a lack of access to traditional college guidance. On Point provides these services at no cost to students, supporting them from their first steps toward post-secondary education through graduation and into their careers.

The impact extends beyond individual students. As On Point graduates become nurses, teachers, business owners, scientists, public servants and other professionals, their success contributes to a stronger regional workforce and creates pathways to economic mobility for families and communities. On Point currently serves students across Onondaga, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, Oswego and Cayuga counties, positioning the organization at the intersection of educational access and workforce development across Central New York and the Mohawk Valley.

Longtime On Point supporters John H. Watt Jr. and Marcia Watt have seen that impact firsthand.

“Marcia and I believe that education, training, and a degree from a two- or four-year college or university is the best path to a good job and a step up to the middle class and beyond. We have supported the On Point mission for over 20 years because we have seen the results in Central New York and Mohawk Valley. Thousands of young adults have benefited from the wraparound services provided by On Point. Many times, it is On Point that enables students to complete the last mile and walk the stage for a degree. On Point alumni are now serving our communities as healthcare professionals, lawyers, government officials, and in many occupations in the private sector. We are proud to support the Fueling Futures campaign and encourage others to do the same,” said John H. Watt Jr.

With more than $8 million committed, On Point for College is now preparing to bring Fueling Futures to the broader community as the campaign enters its final stretch toward the $10 million goal.

“This next phase is about inviting more people to be part of what comes next,” Rowser said. “There are talented young people throughout our region who are ready to succeed. Fueling Futures is about making sure opportunity is there to meet them.”

That vision reflects a belief that has guided On Point since its founding.

“Talent is everywhere; opportunity is not,” said Virginia “Ginny” Donohue, Founder of On Point for College.

That belief remains at the heart of Fueling Futures and On Point’s commitment to expanding opportunities for students throughout the region.