Joy to the Eagles
This year’s Giving Joy Day, the eighth installment of Eastern’s annual service and philanthropy event, saw Eagles from 23 different states make more than 500 gifts to support 110 different university funds.
By events’ end, the university had raised more than $450,000 to support student scholarships and aid programs, according to Linda Safford, senior director for annual giving.
Safford said there were many “generous and happy surprises” during the 2023 event, which is scheduled each year to coincide with EWU’s birthday on April 3. The local office of Gemini Corp., for example, gave $10,000 to benefit EWU design students, while an anonymous donor kicked in $10,000 toward the student-athlete nutrition station (which joins a $70,000 gift from Gatorade | PepsiCo Partners).
The event isn’t just about fundraising, however. As part of what is now a Giving Joy Day tradition, a team of Eastern staff and alumni volunteers spread Eagle affection in the days prior to the event by bringing balloons, chocolates and swag to alumni-owned businesses in Cheney and Spokane.
Back on campus, meanwhile, students showed their gratitude by providing poignant stories about the life-changing impact of scholarships in interviews posted on the Giving Joy Day website and social-media channels. Students also braved chilly temperatures to manage a booth where currently enrolled Eagles wrote thank you notes to those whose support made their scholarships possible.
“Personally, as a scholarship student, I am so incredibly amazed at so much generosity towards our scholarship programs – and we are very, very thankful,” said Lucas Fyre, president of the Associated Students of EWU.
Lucas Fyre, president of the Associated Students of EWU, later offered up his own message of thanks. “Personally, as a scholarship student, I am so incredibly amazed at so much generosity towards our scholarship programs – and we are very, very thankful,” said Fyre, a 21-year-old psychology major from Spokane Valley. “Thank you so much to everybody.”
EWU President Shari McMahan also weighed in with her appreciation: “Thank you all for providing and sustaining scholarships that will help our students persist in their education. Your support is very, very important,” she said.
Miss your chance to join in the joy? Visit us at ewu.edu/give to learn how you can help.
