The NMU Foundation is pleased to report a 34 percent year-over-year increase in outright gifts, pledges and expectancies for fiscal year 2018 totaling more than $6.3 million. The amount includes funding for an endowed professorship established by Dr. Mark Lovell (’77 BS) and his wife, Eileen. Departments received direct funds totaling about $1.6 million. Combined with FY 2017 gains, private giving has nearly doubled over the past two fiscal years.
NMU President Fritz Erickson commented on the importance of private giving to NMU’s mission.
"When donors invest in Northern, they help us enrich the student experience, advance faculty research and scholarship, as well as propel university-wide initiatives," Erickson said. "Gifts to NMU also often have direct and indirect impacts on the Upper Peninsula community. Private giving is an outstanding example of collaboration to achieve the university's mission, vision and strategic goals."
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kerri Schuiling added, “Private giving creates great opportunities for students; it also provides critical resources to help us retain and recruit outstanding faculty members and to give them the freedom and support that drives exploration and innovation.”
Mark Pynnonen (’83 BS), president of the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees, said, “Private support is not just helpful, it is necessary to provide the innovations and opportunities that distinguish NMU. My experience at NMU was wonderful and I’m happy to provide additional support. We invite others to do the same.”
This was prepared by Vince Grout of the NMU Foundation.