For Ever Better
Day of Giving 2026
For Ever Better
Day of Giving 2026
2026 Rochester Americans Honorary Captain: Tavi Thevanesan
Tavi was brought to the ER for pneumonia—but within hours, his condition became critical. He was admitted to the PICU, intubated that night, and placed on ECMO the next day to save his life. Thanks to his doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, Tavi is thriving again. To celebrate his incredible comeback and spirit of bravery, Tavi joined the Amerks as their first Honorary Captain for the 2025–2026 season.
2025 Rochester Americans Honorary Captain: Bentley Vega
This young fighter battled Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a relapse, and a bone marrow transplant. Thanks to exceptional care at Golisano Children’s Hospital, he’s now in remission, facing each challenge with resilience and spirit. A lifelong hockey fan, he’s embracing a dream come true with the Amerks.
Featured stories
Featured stories
Mary Ellen Burris makes landmark gift to support free admission at the Memorial Art Gallery
The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) is advancing its effort to make general admission permanently free, thanks to a milestone gift from Mary Ellen Burris ’68W (EdM)—a community leader, Warner School of Education and Human Development alumna, and longtime supporter of the URochester.
Mary Ellen Burris makes landmark gift to support free admission at the Memorial Art Gallery
The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) is advancing its effort to make general admission permanently free, thanks to a milestone gift from Mary Ellen Burris ’68W (EdM)—a community leader, Warner School of Education and Human Development alumna, and longtime supporter of the URochester.
The Sloan Performing Arts Center
The 30,000-square-foot Sloan Performing Arts Center had its soft opening at the end of August, adding a much-anticipated new building to the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½â€™s River Campus in time for the fall semester. The building will be fully functional by the end of the calendar year. The Sloan Center is made possible thanks to the generosity of University Life Trustee Thomas Sloan ’65, ’67 (MS) and Linda Sloan ’67 and other lead donors. Read more about the Sloan Center and get a behind-the-scenes look at artist Jay Yan’s installation of a specially commissioned mosaic that will span most of the building’s interior.
The Sloan Performing Arts Center
The 30,000-square-foot Sloan Performing Arts Center had its soft opening at the end of August, adding a much-anticipated new building to the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½â€™s River Campus in time for the fall semester. The building will be fully functional by the end of the calendar year. The Sloan Center is made possible thanks to the generosity of University Life Trustee Thomas Sloan ’65, ’67 (MS) and Linda Sloan ’67 and other lead donors. Read more about the Sloan Center and get a behind-the-scenes look at artist Jay Yan’s installation of a specially commissioned mosaic that will span most of the building’s interior.