Giving Day a success
SPU held its second annual Giving Day in March. The highly successful 24-hour fundraising effort inspired 1,844 donors to give $252,627 to the Seattle Pacific Fund and various programs in support of SPU students. With gifts directed to scholarships and financial aid, faith-related activities, sports teams, books, equipment, and more, the day yielded a 179% increase in donors and a 45% increase in funds raised over the 2019 event.
Athletics receives support
Falcon Athletics received a gift of nearly $1 million from alumni Daryl ’66 and Claudia Vander Pol ’66. This gift supports scholarships for the men’s basketball program and various capital projects and purchases, including a pair of racing shells for the women’s rowing team.
President’s Award for Philanthropy
Long-standing SPU supporters Gary and Barbara Ames received the 2019 President’s Award For Philanthropy last November at the annual President’s Circle Dinner held at the Four Seasons Seattle. Believing talent is widely distributed but opportunity is not, the Ameses made an initial $1 million commitment in 2001 to fund a Universitywide initiative to assist historically underrepresented student-leaders. They have remained committed to this effort through nearly $8 million in additional scholarship support. A total of 132 scholarships have been awarded to Ames Scholars, and their support has been instrumental in the over 40% increase of historically underrepresented students attending SPU.
Graduate theology aid reduces debt
A generous donor pledged $1 million in scholarship funds over three years for graduate students pursuing theology degrees through Seattle Pacific Seminary. The gift aid alleviates the burden of student loans for seminarians going into ministry.