Alan Song, founding partner and chairman of Harvest Capital, and the father of a student at the College of Arts & Science, has established the Song Family Education Fund at NYU.
Many future NYU students will feel the impact of this gift. Beginning in fall of 2024 and each year thereafter, the Fund will award annual $10,000 scholarships to four undergraduates from each of three NYU schools: the College of Arts & Science, Stern, and Tisch. Song Family Education Fund Scholars will be chosen based on demonstrated financial need and academic merit.
Just hours into the start of the 2023-24 academic year, the Song family, their friends, and NYU administrators including deans Antonio Merlo (Arts & Science), Wendy Suzuki (College of Arts & Science), Allyson Green (Tisch), and Robert Whitelaw (Stern) gathered for a celebratory signing ceremony. At the event, Song expressed motivations for his generosity that were both personal and societal.
“My son is currently studying at the College of Arts & Science, and I have witnessed firsthand the incredible opportunities and transformative experiences at NYU offers its students. And also I am a beneficiary of quality education. I have personally experienced the transformative power of knowledge and its ability to shape destinies. It is this belief that fuels my dedication to supporting education as a means of empowerment and societal progress.
“New York University has long been renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and global impact. It is a place where knowledge is cherished, where ideas find a fertile ground to flourish, and where students are nurtured into leaders of tomorrow. I feel privileged that my son is a part of this vibrant academic community, and I’m truly grateful for the education and opportunities he receives here.
“I firmly believe that education holds the key to unlocking potential and creating a better future for all. My contribution is a humble step in that direction. By supporting NYU, we are not only investing in the future of this institution but also in the countless lives that will be transformed through its educational endeavors.”
NYU’s Vice President for Development Roe Fellows thanked the Song family on behalf of the University, and noted that “investment in our students is a top priority for NYU and our new president, Linda Mills. We are especially delighted that Dr. Song selected three distinct NYU schools for his generosity, each with its own impact in forming future leaders in industry, the arts, science, and humanities: all the things that contribute to a thriving society.”