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In April 2023, the East Stroudsburg University Foundation held its annual scholarship dinner, a memorable celebration that brings together scholarship donors and their student recipients to meet and get to know one another. Always a packed room, the event, for me, reinforces a spirit of philanthropy within ourselves, reminding us the impact we can have on people’s lives.

Fast forward to June 30th, the end of fiscal year 2022-2023, and those individual personal stories we heard from donors and students that evening escalate in scale as the ESU Foundation shared it provided 734 scholarship awards to students that year, totaling more than $1.1 million. Even greater an accomplishment, it’s the fourth consecutive year that support to student scholarship surpassed the $1million mark.

The scholarship program is just a fraction of support the ESU Foundation has provided ESU and its students in fiscal year 2022-2023. I’m happy to say the Foundation secured $9,580,446 million in gifts and pledges from more than 3,200 donors, a record year in its 37-year history.

It’s times like these when your generosity comes shining through and we’re reminded how truly remarkable you are. Included in this record year is also the Foundation’s largest commitment ever, a $4 million bequest from alumna Harriet Hall ’56, whose story graces the pages of this magazine. In her and her late husband George’s ’58 name, their bequest will make a significant impact on ESU and its students. We could not be more grateful!

Also, within these pages, you’ll discover the result of your generosity in other ways. Our accomplishments in fiscal year 2022–2023 include:

• Fundraising events that raised money for scholarship and affinity programs, including the inaugural dinner celebration for ESU’s 14th President Kenneth Long and 10 golf tournaments for athletics and academic programs.
• The formal opening of the Aquaculture Lab was held as well as the Dale and Frances Hughes Foundation Community Health Education and Simulation Center. Both of these facilities offer students the best of learning experiences and shine a spotlight on ESU’s academic strengths.

It’s always part of the ESU Foundation’s pledge to you to properly steward and recognize your gifts of support. This year, we’re proud to have a clean audit from our outside financial auditing team. Also, to recognize your continued support, the Foundation this fall announced the Lifetime Giving Society and the Loyalty Society, both of which you will find listed in this report. Our dedicated and loyal supporters deserve this esteemed recognition!  I’d like to thank the ESU Foundation board for their efforts this year as well as the staff who worked diligently to accomplish these achievements. When everyone works together, and ESU’s alumni and friends show they care, the outcome is significant.

With the greatest sincerity, thank you!