Ray Curry holds many titles: president of United Auto Workers International, the 2021 Alumnus of the Year for The University of Alabama’s Executive MBA program and the Man of the Year for Detroit’s “Michigan Chronicle.”
But the one title he takes particular pride in is that of donor.
“I was raised by a single-parent who also graduated from college,” Ray said. “That was one of the number one demands of me and my siblings is that we would all be able to get post-secondary education. Knowing that there’s a number of challenges that students always face, I wanted to be able to give back whenever I could.”
Since he completed his EMBA degree in 2013, Ray has given back to a variety of programs across campus. Recently, Ray focused his giving on the Culverhouse College of Business’ First Generation Emergency Business Support Fund, which aids first-generation business students with unforeseen costs that may arise during their time at the Capstone.
“First-generation students typically don’t have trust funds or savings that have been set up specifically for a college program,” Ray said. “You can max out on grants and max out on loans, but there’s always that additional need that’s there, whether it’s the replacement of a laptop that went out or if there’s sudden travel expenses related to a trip.”
Ray knows these struggles firsthand. In 2010, Ray travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, as part of a required course in his EMBA program and found himself responsible for paying his flight, hotel and meals while abroad. From his own experiences, he hopes his generosity can ease the stressors of current students and lead them toward a trajectory of academic success.
“There will always be those incidentals that come up,” Ray said. “Hopefully, what I’ve been able to contribute helps someone who’s actually in need.”
He said one joy for him is speaking with the UA student workers who make phone solicitations for the Alumni Association.
“When I’ve made pledges for donations, we get a chance to talk about what their program is and why they’re working part-time,” he said. “Often, they’re working to make these calls because they need to be able to support their expenses for the University. It’s been great to hear some of the paths they’re on and about the programs they’re in. They’re always happy that someone from the University or an alum is interested in what they’re doing and what their future holds.”
Ray also hopes his platform can be an inspiration to students who may be following a career path similar to his own.
“It was a huge honor to receive the Man of the Year award,” he said. “I think that award is also a story about how many others you can share your story with and how you can either provide some assistance or provide some knowledge toward students’ educational goals.”
For Ray, who remains humble despite his own personal and professional success, his giving truly arises from the desire to affect positive change in students’ lives.
“Seeing someone else walk across that stage and receive that degree is what it’s about for me,” Ray said. “Knowing that those funds, regardless of what the amount is, may have helped pay for books or helped pay for extended learning opportunities, that’s impactful.”
