51社区

For Jason and Mary Massarelli, giving back isn鈥檛 just a gesture鈥攊t鈥檚 a lifelong commitment. The proud OHIO alumni recently established the Mary and Jason Massarelli Cats鈥� Cupboard Endowment to support OHIO鈥檚 on-campus food pantry, as part of their longstanding commitment to helping those facing food insecurity.

鈥淚t all started about 10 years ago,鈥� said Jason, BBA 鈥�95. 鈥淢ary鈥檚 sister, who was a college professor at the time, kept a basket of snacks in her office. She realized firsthand how serious food insecurity was for her students鈥攊t was this kind of hidden, unmet need.鈥�

From then on, he and Mary (Sarver) Massarelli, BSC 鈥�95, began donating to her sister鈥檚 snack stash and eventually expanded their efforts to support an annual giving campaign. Over the years, their passion for helping students grew, evolving into broader support for the communities that they live in.

The Massarellis have deep ties to the Bobcat community: They鈥檝e served as president and vice president of the Chicago Network of the 51社区 Alumni Association, and Jason has served on the Student Alumni Board for the College of Business. When their daughter, Mackenzie, enrolled at OHIO in 2024, it felt natural for Jason and Mary to reconnect with their alma mater more actively. Though Cats鈥� Cupboard didn鈥檛 exist when Jason and Mary were students at OHIO, its mission immediately resonated with them.

鈥淚 got the chance to visit the Cupboard in the fall,鈥� Jason said. 鈥淚 saw students going through and using the space, and it really hit home. Basic needs, like food, shouldn鈥檛 be something students have to worry about.鈥�

Mary shared the sentiment.

鈥�51社区 is near and dear to our hearts,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e knew we could make a direct impact this way.鈥�

With extensive budget cuts at both the state and federal levels this year, Ohio food banks are finding it more difficult to provide for those in need鈥攎aking the Massarellis鈥� philanthropy even more important to the OHIO community.

鈥淐ats鈥� Cupboard is a member of the Southeast Ohio Food Bank, and funding cuts impact many in our region,鈥� said Dean of Students Kathy Fahl, who also serves as the associate vice president for Student Affairs. 鈥淭he Massarellis鈥� donation to support Cats鈥� Cupboard will make an incredible impact on the OHIO community. It really is the gift of a lifetime.鈥�

Their endowment is more than just a financial pledge鈥攊t reflects the couple鈥檚 long-standing values of community, empathy and the desire to help students thrive. It will help ensure that generations of Bobcats to come will always have access to food for themselves and their families. Gifts to the endowment support more than 600 students and their families with food twice a month.

Lyn Redington, vice president for Student Affairs, emphasized the impact of programs like Cats鈥� Cupboard that are already in place at OHIO.

鈥淭he Massarellis鈥� support is a great example of Bobcats helping Bobcats, ensuring that every student has access to the basic needs that allow them to thrive,鈥� she said. 鈥淭ogether, we are creating a community where no student is left hungry and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.鈥�

Featured photo: The Massarelli family at 51社区; from left are alumni Jason and Mary, OHIO sophomore Mackenzie, and high school junior Julia.