Syracuse fan donates $175K to charity after upset of Duke
A Syracuse Orange fan proved to be a man of his word by donating $175,000 to charity after promising to do so if the team beat the Duke Blue Devils on Monday night.

Adam Weitsman, a local businessman, philanthropist and “close, personal” friend of Jim Boeheim, was having lunch with the coach ahead of Syracuse’s showdown of No. 1 Duke.
“I think you’re going to win tonight,” Weitsman said he told Boeheim, via ESPN’s Myron Medcalf. “He seemed pretty confident.”
The confidence was well-placed, as Weitsman enjoyed a front-row seat to Monday’s thrilling 95-91 victory, sitting directly behind the team’s bench at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Earlier Monday, Weitsman pledged via Twitter to donate $150,000 to the Boys & Girls Club should Syracuse upset Duke.
If the #Syracuse men's basketball team beats Duke today I'll donate $150,000 to the local boys and girls clubs! Go Orange! pic.twitter.com/foeH6Cxwil
— Adam Weitsman (@AdamWeitsman) January 14, 2019
On Tuesday, Weitsman phoned the Boys & Girls Club to inform them that he would be sending separate $50,000 checks to Boys & Girls Clubs in Owego, Binghamton and Syracuse.
I'm so happy for Coach, happy for the team and most of all happy for the local Boys and Girls Clubs who will get the $150,000 donation in honor of this epic #Syracuse win. Love our ! pic.twitter.com/Wsnvvyi2Qs
— Adam Weitsman (@AdamWeitsman) January 15, 2019
After being reminded he neglected another club in Endicott, Weitsman tacked on another $25,000 to his pledge to total $175,000.
Weitsman said he was originally inspired to make the charitable offer after reading an article about a Syracuse recruit who extolled the benefits of the Boys & Girls Club in his hometown. It reminded him of how much the club meant to him during his youth in upstate New York.
Weisman’s life took a wrong turn and spent almost a year in prison in 2004 for bank fraud. He has since built a successful business and turned around his life.
“When I was younger, I was pretty selfish,” Weitsman said. “I just want to be a different man than I was when I was young. Hopefully, [my donation] spurs other people to do the same.”