The foundation of New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife Alexandra has given the largest gift ... [+]
LaGuardia Community College, a two-year institution in the City University of New York system, has received a donation of $116.2 million from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation.
According to a university news release, the gift is the largest ever received by CUNY and also the largest in history for any U.S. community college. The funds will be used to create the Cohen Career Collective, a 160,000 square-foot career and workforce training center.
“We are profoundly grateful for this incredible gift from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation,” said Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College, in a news release. “The Cohen Career Collective will be the largest career and technical training facility of its kind in the region, offering programs to prepare New Yorkers of all ages, backgrounds, and educational levels for good jobs in high-growth sectors of our local economy.”
The educational programs offered at the new center will lead to associate degrees, industry certifications, and other credentials. They will focus on high-demand business sectors, including healthcare, construction, technology, culinary & hospitality, green jobs, and film and television.
A full suite of student support services — such as career advising, job interview preparation, job placement, childcare, and financial literacy advising — will also be included.
In addition, the Collective will:
- Offer English as a Second Language classes for students needing to improve their English before taking vocational programs.
- Provide high-school equivalency classes so trainees can obtain their GED if needed.
- Serve as the home to LaGuardia’s Summer Youth Employment Program, run by the college in collaboration with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.
- Include specialized shops, labs, study areas, student meeting rooms, computer labs, and classrooms for hands-on instruction and training. It will also contain a Career Services Center and a Student Welcome Center.
“I wanted to create a place where students have access to high-quality programs and facilities and can learn the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world,” said Alexandra Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. “Our goal is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We are proud to create the Cohen Career Collective and are committed to our neighbors here in Queens.”
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said the gift would allow the college to “help generations of New Yorkers secure the skills they need to advance their careers and better our city,’’ adding “this historic $116.2 million investment multiplies CUNY’s role as an engine of upward mobility and doubles down on our commitment to giving students the tools they need to meet the demands of the changing workforce.”
According to the college, construction of the new facility is expected to be completed by January 2029.
Steven Cohen is a hedge fund manager, with an estimated worth that Forbes has pegged at $19.8 billion. He is the owner of New York Mets, buying the team in 2020 for $2.4 billion.
Founded in 2001, the Steven and Alex Cohen Foundation has been a major philanthropic supporter of several causes, donating more than $1 billion over the past two decades. Among its giving priorities are advancing children’s healthcare and education, helping the underserved, supporting the arts, protecting the environment, and supporting Lyme and tickborne disease research.
