Generous Alumnus is Paying It Forward

Tom Fox, a second-generation Eagle, found his passion for computers in the late 1960s while earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Eastern Washington State College.

It started with an intro class and a work-study gig in Eastern’s computer center. By the time Fox graduated in 1970, he was ready to embark on what became a pioneering technology career in the Seattle area. Fox’s expertise included implementing, fine-tuning and managing computer systems for companies in diverse industries, including Amazon, and collaborating across departments and organizations.

“The first system I built was actually an accounts receivable system for the Boeing Computer Services group, and what I ended up doing career-wise was following that path,” said Fox, who also holds a master’s degree in computer science from University of Texas at Austin.

Now, after raising three children — each of whom earned their own college degrees — he and his wife, Marybeth, are paying it forward.

In 2022, the family created the Fox Family Education Scholarship and the Fox Family Computer Science Scholarship to provide opportunities for another generation of Eagles to find their own path to success.

The education fund is a special nod to his parents, Elmer and Louise Fox, who earned bachelor’s and graduate degrees from Eastern. As educators in the Central Valley School District, his mom taught students at South Pines and other elementary schools, while his father also taught and later served as principal at Greenacres Elementary School.

Valuing education was instilled by his parents at an early age, Fox said. This was part of the inspiration behind creating the scholarships, which provide 24 students a year with half-tuition scholarships. After this fall’s scholarship awards, the Fox family will have helped nearly 50 students in just two years.

Last February, he traveled from his hometown in Burien, Washington, to meet seven EWU scholarship recipients. Each of the students trudged through a snowstorm for the opportunity to thank Tom Fox in person.

“They were very grateful. They are working hard, and they are really motivated to get their degree,” said Fox, adding that the students appreciate the difference a degree will make in their lives.

Unlike endowed scholarships, which are invested and provide awards in perpetuity, the Fox family wanted to make a large impact right away. Courtney Gray, senior director of gift planning for University Advancement, appreciates the family’s generosity and worked to ensure they could give to Eastern in a way that fits their financial interests and passion for education.

She helped Fox develop a giving plan that directs his required minimum distribution from his IRA to fund scholarships. (Learn more about this unique way to give.) Giving this way helps Fox avoid income tax on the distribution, which allows him to make an even bigger gift to benefit Eastern students.

Fox said in creating the scholarships it was important for him to maximize the impact of their gifts. “I’m seeing the impact directly now,” said Fox, who’s heard from numerous students about the benefit his support has delivered.

Jessikah Smith is one of those students. Smith, who is entering her junior year at Eastern, will receive a Fox Family scholarship this fall to help with her goal of becoming a visual arts education teacher.

Smith is funding her education by juggling a 3:30 p.m. to midnight shift, 30 hours a week, at a Cheney grocery store — even as she attends classes full-time throughout the schoolyear.

Without the scholarship, Jessikah says, she might have dropped out of EWU. It’s not just the tuition and books that sometimes cost as much as $300 each, she said. It’s trying to afford groceries, rent and other expenses.

She told the Fox family: “Thank you! You’re the reason a lot of EWU students can keep going. You give opportunities for students who need it.”

For self-funded student Jayden Beckham, who plans to become a math teacher, the scholarship has opened doors.

Instead of going for jobs that pay more but don’t support his teaching aspirations, he can now get by with income from tutoring high school students and refereeing intramural sports.

“I don’t have to stress out as much,” Beckham said. “I will have less loan debt when I begin my career as a math teacher.”

Eastern Washington University donors change lives. Learn how you can help students by visiting our Ways to Give webpage or EWU/Give.