WMU News

Anonymous donor establishes scholarships with $100,000 gift

June 25, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- An anonymous donor has established four need-based scholarships at Western Michigan University, each worth up to $32,000 over four years, with a gift of more than $100,000 to the WMU Foundation.

The gift is part of current and deferred cash gifts to the Foundation, totaling $726,864 for April and May, that were reported to the WMU Board of Trustees June 25. The year-to-date total for such gifts is $9,221,191, an increase of $2,814,671 over the total at this time last year.

"We're very grateful for this wonderful expression of generosity on the part of a good friend of the University, who wishes to remain anonymous," said Bud Bender, associate vice president for development and secretary of the WMU Foundation.

One scholarship will be awarded each year for the next four years, beginning this fall.

Other cash gifts to the foundation in April and May include:

The report also included previously announced pledges from two local organizations. A Bronson Healthcare Group pledge of $3 million completes a $4 million pledge for the naming of the Bronson School of Nursing at WMU.

A Kalamazoo Foundation pledge of $2 million includes $1.7 million for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Technology and Research Park and $300,000 for infrastructure improvements to the park.

In other action, the board authorized changes in the language of some endowments of the WMU Foundation and the Paper Technology Foundation to ensure the endowments achieve the goal of donors for growth. The changes pertain to endowments that call for the re-investment of income or earnings.

Media contact: Mike Matthews, 616 387-8400, michael.matthews@wmich.edu


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