Executive Director Message

Richard D. Santoro

Dear Friends,

If you have ever wondered if your support to the East Stroudsburg University Foundation truly makes a difference, then the 2018-2019 Annual Report and Honor Roll of Donors should put your mind at ease. We have appropriately named this annual issue Milestones, and as you read through the pages, you’ll see why – and how – you and so many others had a significant role in the Foundation’s record-breaking year in fundraising for the university and its students.

You will discover how your generosity benefits every area across campus, with your gifts having an impact for decades to come. In total, the ESU Foundation secured $4,648,606 in gifts and pledges in fiscal year 2018-2019. The most ever in our history! Academic and athletic programs, facility improvements and student scholarships are among the many areas where your support shines through. We aim to share with you, in complete transparency, how every dollar helps students succeed in the classroom, on the athletic field, and out in the world.

As a result of your gifts, our promises made at the launch of several campaigns have been realized:

• We closed a $1.8 million campaign and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Creekview Park complex, providing a state-of-the-art complex to our baseball and softball teams.
• A campaign to rename the Dr. Jane Huffman Wildlife Genetics Institute raised more than
  $150,000. This created an operating endowment for the lab. A ribbon-cutting and dedication was held in April 2019 to celebrate Dr. Huffman’s legacy.
• Many of you joined us for East Stroudsburg University’s 125th Anniversary Celebration in October 2018, which drew 250 guests and raised more than $175,000 for scholarships in one evening.
• More than $100,000 was raised for new equipment for the soon to be relocated and revamped Aquaculture Laboratory.

The Foundation’s scholarship program continues to be strong. To enable students to focus on their studies, we awarded $943,649 in scholarships in 2018-2019. That number will continue to grow as donors established 39 new funds this past year. To provide a little historical perspective, I’m proud to say the Foundation has established 143 new scholarships during the past four years and now has 434 scholarships available to ESU students.

Putting a face on those statistics, throughout this publication, you will read about students who have benefitted from the gift of scholarship. Their testimonials speak volumes on the impact you have had on their lives. Thank you for your belief in our mission to provide opportunities for students to receive the best education and university experience possible. It could not be done without your support.

From all of us at the ESU Foundation and the students who benefit from your generosity, thank you. You can be assured, we may have set a record for our 33-year old organization, but we are looking ahead in hopes of surpassing this benchmark in the coming year. With you as our partner, we are destined for success.