CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
Dear Friends,
In fiscal year 2024–2025, thousands of alumni and friends— together with our corporate and foundation partners—once again demonstrated extraordinary generosity to the East Stroudsburg University Foundation. Loyal supporters contributed gifts and pledges totaling $6,777,442 between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, a testament to their steadfast commitment to ESU and the success of its students.
Philanthropy continues to evolve, and we recognize the pressures facing donors today. Economic uctuations, shifting priorities in charitable giving, and rising costs across the higher-education landscape in uence the decisions supporters make. That is why we are especially grateful that so many of you continue to view ESU as a worthy investment—one that empowers students, strengthens our region, and contributes to a more knowledgeable and resilient society.
Within the following pages of your Alumni Herald magazine, you will see the thousands of alumni, friends, businesses, and organizations who stood with the ESU Foundation last year. You will also discover how we work diligently to steward the resources entrusted to us, honor those who support our mission, and ensure that ESU students have access to the opportunities and experiences that elevate their education.
While this is just a snapshot of a busy and successful year, we hope it offers a glimpse of the noteworthy work your support helps us achieve. This edition of the Herald also includes a cover story featuring Kathleen P. Walker deMarrais ’71, who was a First-Generation student at ESU, and has taken steps through the creation of student scholarships so that others may have the same opportunities in the years to come. Her story is an inspiration we are honored to share.
Looking ahead, 2025–2026 is especially meaningful as the ESU Foundation celebrates 40 years of support—see our 40-year timeline of success on page 17. We see tremendous possibilities: initiatives to advance, resources to secure, and even more students whose lives can be transformed through your generosity. Your continued support of the ESU Foundation remains one of the most meaningful investments you can make. Together, we are building futures and strengthening a university that truly matters.
