Donors & Corporate Partners

Charles Watson ’99 honors father, supports undergraduate affordability
Former varsity punter and Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson ’99 established an endowed scholarship in honor of his father.

The Intersection of AI and Investing: A Transformational Moment
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept in finance—it’s here, reshaping markets, redefining careers, and forcing regulators to catch up.

Hyatt CEO Named 2025 Cornell Hospitality Icon
The 2025 Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award is scheduled to be presented at the Cornell Icon and Innovator Awards event in New York City on June 3, 2025.

2024 EMI Annual Conference: Innovation and Transformation to Emerge Stronger
The EMI annual conference explored the theme “Innovation and Transformation to Emerge Stronger,” featuring global leaders and expert panels.

Marketing Wisdom, From the Alum Who Helped Turn Domino’s Around
Each year, now-CEO Russell Weiner ’90 comes back to the Hill to speak about the secret sauce behind the pizza chain’s renaissance.

$11.5M Gift Strengthens Hospitality Research, Teaching
The gift from C. Kenneth Grailer ’53 will support the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration by expanding the Center for Hospitality Research, helping renovate the Grailer Food Labs and providing scholarships.

Philanthropy Class Aids Tompkins County Nonprofits
Cornell SC Johnson College students in an annual Philanthropic Leadership class tripled grants to local nonprofits.

Cornell Real Estate Club in New York City
Cornell Real Estate Club trek members travel to New York City to meet with leading industry professionals.

Icons and Innovators: Cornell Awards Shine Light on Hospitality’s Finest
The 2024 Icon is former IHG CEO Keith Barr ’92 and Innovators are José Andrés and Rob Wilder, founders of José Andrés Group and World Central Kitchen.