Happy Valentine’s Month, Eagles!

I want to share a fun story of philanthropy and love with you this go around of Eagles Give.

Did you know that quite a few students meet their forever person while on campus or as alumni out in the world? We have thousands of couples who share Eagle-inspired love stories.

Jon and Karen Heimbigner, longtime supporters featured in the story below, are preparing to celebrate their 53rd year of marriage in June. Another alumni couple recently shared that they loved their time at Eastern so much, they also want to give back by creating an endowment – and did so in three payments. At EWU, to begin an endowment fund is $5,000, and it costs $25,000 to build out an endowed named fund. (Visit our Ways to Give webpage to learn more.)

Speaking of ways to give…Please mark your calendar for Giving Joy Day on April 3. Our goal is to raise $500,000 to help students realize a life-changing degree.

Thank you for being a well-loved member of our Eastern community – and go Eags!

Barb

Barb Richey ’92 & ’99 | Vice President and Executive Director
EWU University Advancement and EWU Foundation

P.S. Visit our Giving Joy Day website to learn how you can help.

Eagle Strong

Alumni Sweethearts Share a Love of Eastern

Jon and Karen Heimbigner are familiar faces to many. The longtime businessman and high school teacher have made a difference for others throughout their 53-year marriage. Now, after decades of giving to EWU, the couple have taken their philanthropy to the next level with a large gift that established the Jon and Karen Heimbigner Scholar Athlete Fund.

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Eagle Impact

Risograph Machine Sparks Artistic Wave at EWU

Funders stepped up to help EWU’s Design Department purchase a unique ‘digital screen printer’ out of Japan and to fund four rotating residencies. The resident artists will unlock the creative potential of this unusual machine and share what they learn with students and the larger community.

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Professor’s Legacy Has Touched Generations of Students

When Gwen Cash-James came to work at Eastern last year, little did she know that one of her duties would be to oversee the awarding of the Florence and Earle Stewart Endowment. As a student, in the mid 1990s, Cash-James herself received two classics from the fund – books she cherishes to this day.

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Giving Joy Day – Eagles Like You to the Rescue!

On Wednesday, April 3, EWU will celebrate our annual Giving Joy Day. 

This year, Eagles will once again be out in full force for Giving Joy Day. As always, this red-and-white holiday is about raising funds that open doors for an affordable, transformational education for students of all backgrounds.

We are grateful for your support! We invite you to join us in contributing to scholarship and program funds on April 3. Your gift will provide opportunities and eliminate roadblocks for hardworking students like Jessica Avalos and Brooklyn Parkey, who will go on to make a difference in our community.

Visit our Giving Joy Day website to meet future nurses Jessica and Brooklyn and learn how you can get involved. 

Eagle Endnotes

Alumni G.O.L.D.
Graduates of the Last Decade Paying it Forward 

Big Sky Championships, March 9-13
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams to Compete

Eastern Magazine Fall/Winter Issue Online
Eagle News for You

Dear Friends,

Today is GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities.

As fundraisers for EWU, we are honored every day to engage with people like you who understand the value of doing acts of service for others. You know this university provides amazing value to students of all backgrounds and that, even so, earning a college degree is expensive and our students face a myriad of challenges.

Your scholarship support gives students the extra wind they need under their wings to graduate! So, THANK YOU for giving to EWU!

In this issue of Eagles Give, you will learn about different – and sometimes unique – ways that EWU supporters are unleashing the transformative power of an Eastern education.

For instance, anonymous donors lit up Roos Field with a fireworks display at the 100th Homecoming Football game. They believe shared celebration buoys the college experience for students and knits our alumni together as an intergenerational Eagle Nation that keeps our university – and regional community – strong.

If you have a special giving idea of your own, please reach out and let us know. Your EWU philanthropy team is here to help you make your own transformational gift.

Happy Holidays – and Go Eags!

Laura Thayer | AVP for Philanthropy
Lthayer3@ewu.edu | 509.359.6901

Visit EWU/Give to learn some of the many ways you can give – and help us reach our GivingTuesday goal of raising $100,000!

We may be biased, but we think that helping students at Eastern Washington University earn a brighter future is one of the best GivingTuesday causes around.

In honor of GivingTuesday, we are asking you to make a gift to support hardworking students like Hailey Arland and Alex Moomaw – students who will go on to make an impact as professionals and community members. Our students are your neighbors, coworkers and friends.

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Eagle Impact

Gift Lights up the Tower

You heard it right! Our friendly yet somewhat predatory Eagle on Eastern’s iconic water tower recently got lit. Visible from the ground, and from passing aircraft overhead, this illuminating gift enhances Eagle spirit for students, alumni and the larger community.

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EWU Near-Peer Mentorship Gets a Boost

Eastern Washington University recently received a $100,000 grant to send Aspire student mentors into Spokane-area high schools to help improve postsecondary enrollment rates. Bring on the Eagles!

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Longtime Eagle Gives Back

Lance Kissler, who earned two degrees from Eastern and rose to the rank of associate vice president of University Relations as an employee, recently made a major gift to ensure that the Eagle Pride Center continues to provide a safe space for students to thrive.

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Eagle Endnotes

Eagle Store | Holiday Sale
Help Students | Make a Year-End Gift to Eastern
STCU Sponsorship | Makes Future Teacher Send-Off Possible
Nursing Program is Home | SIERR Opening Celebrates Support