Vinod Menon is a physics professor who doesn’t usually get a lot of mail in his office. However, when the City College of New York went back to in-person classes this semester, he had some junk mail and one cardboard box which has been sitting in his mail for 10 months.
Menon who’s also the chairman of the physics department thought that this box had some mementos from previous students.
When he opened the box, he was speechless. There were stacks of $50 and $100 and when he counted them, there were $18,000!
Professor Gets $18K in His Mail from an Anonymous Donor to Help Out Students
Menon said that he’s never seen that much money in cash form, except in movies. He was pretty shocked and didn’t know how to react.
The unsigned letter in the box explained that the donor graduated a long time ago from this college with a double major in mathematics and physics and then got his MD in physics there and also went on for a double doctorate in astronomy and physics.
The letter said: “Assuming that you’re a bit curious as to why I am doing this, the reason is straightforward: the excellent educational opportunity available to me-which I took full advantage of a CCNY-gave me the basis to continue to develop.”
The anonymous donor said that he has a long, productive, and rewarding career. He asked the professor to use the money to help both junior and senior students, as well as the ones majoring in math and physics who’re in need of financial aid to keep up with their studies.
The box with the money weighed 4 pounds and 8 ounces and it cost $90.80 to be sent by a two-day Priority Mail from Pensacola, Florida. It was delivered to CCNY on November 12, 2020, long after the school had transferred to distance learning due to the pandemic.
Menon said he went to the lab in the pandemic, but rarely to the science building where he taught classes.
It Made Me Proud & Happy to Be Part of this Institution, Said the Professor
The professor was shocked seeing the money, but reading the letter made him happy and proud to be part of an institution that made all the difference in the donor’s life.
Menon called the dean of sciences after receiving the box and then contacted the campus police, as well as the department that handles the gifts after realizing they had a high sum of money.
Before CCNY could keep the money, the officials needed to ensure that the money wasn’t acquired from criminal activity. They couldn’t identify the donor although there was a name on the package, it didn’t match their alumni records. The return address didn’t help either.
Later, the CUNY board of trustees voted unanimously on December 13 to approve a resolution that accepts the money.
The money was placed in a bronze box and displayed in the college as a tribute to the generosity of the donor. The donor’s wish was to give out two full-tuition scholarships every year. The tuition at this college is around $7500 yearly so the anonymous gift will continue for a decade.
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