The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) and its educational outreach arm, The Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation (CGIF), received a $1,250,000 donation from the Sastri Family. This is the largest donation ever received in the history of the organizations. The donation will provide programmatic and ongoing support for the CGIF, which aims to attract more students to the field of ceramic and glass materials science through innovative outreach programming.
“We are truly honored to receive a transformational gift of this magnitude and to partner with the Sastri Family to accelerate the mission of the CGIF,” Mark Mecklenborg, Executive Director of ACerS, says. “This investment will help us provide the resources, opportunities, and training that will shape the future of the field.”
“This landmark donation will be a catalyst for our organization, allowing us to elevate our programs and support for the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals,” Marcus Fish, Director of Development and Industry Relations at CGIF, says. “We are thrilled to have this level of investment in our mission and cannot wait to see the impact it will have in the field.”
The donation will provide continuing endowment support for the CGIF. It will also provide annual support for new and innovative outreach program initiatives that will help ignite student interest in ceramic and glass science.
Dr. Suri Sastri, the donor, is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Surmet Corporation. Founded in 1982, Surmet is a global leader in ALON and Spinel transparent ceramic technologies and products. Headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, Surmet is a vertically integrated company with facilities in Buffalo, New York, as well as Murrieta, California. Dr. Sastri is an innovator holding multiple patents and tens of publications leads materials technology developments at Surmet.
“Surmet was founded on the premise that today’s materials are not adequate to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s systems, machines and applications,” Dr. Sastri says. “Similarly, we need to prepare our younger generation to meet the talent needs of the future, and I believe that future is going to be in the field of materials such as ceramics and glasses.”
Dr. Sastri is a long-time advocate for student-focused programs and outreach. This generous gift represents the Sastri Family’s commitment to the CGIF’s mission of ensuring that the industry can attract and support the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals.
Help us continue to inspire the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals. Give now at ceramics.org/donate.
