They take no salary for their service. And the Marianist members have vowed to live in poverty.
Yet these dedicated servant-leaders on the University of Dayton’s Board of Trustees committed an astonishing $91 million to the We Soar campaign, which speaks volumes about their belief in UD’s people and our mission.
I’m so humbled and inspired by their generosity and grateful for their stewardship of our beloved UD.
In all, we raised a record $453 million in the most ambitious campaign in our history and hit new highs in engagement and participation. Our trustees led the way by example. Cheered on by campaign chair Deb Tobias ‘73, they inspired others to give, get involved and, in the Marianist way, believe in what we can achieve together.
Every trustee — 100 percent of the board — stepped up. New trustees. Emeritus trustees. Recent alumni trustees. Literally, EVERY trustee. They gave because they take great joy in investing in a University that shaped so many of their lives and because they believe in the people who make the University’s mission real.
I don’t have to look far to see the impact of their philanthropy. It can be felt in every corner of campus — from scholarships that make a UD education possible for talented students from every ZIP code to endowed faculty positions that help us attract and retain the best faculty. The trustees also supported hands-on learning experiences that prepare Flyers for the world and helped us renovate and build new facilities.
As one grateful student said, “The generosity of donors has not only relieved the financial burden of my education but has also opened doors to countless opportunities in the Flyer community. It represents a vote of confidence on my potential and aspirations.”
I couldn’t have said it better. It’s a vote of confidence.
Thanks to trustee giving, our students will learn from extraordinary teachers and staff dedicated to our Catholic, Marianist mission. Consider the impact of these gifts:
- The Marianists, who give back most of their salaries to the Marianist Province for reinvestment in mission-driven initiatives, established the Father William J. Ferree Chair of Social Justice in the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Another endowment supported the hiring of a new executive director for the Center for Catholic Education, which helps prepare teachers to serve in inner-city Catholic schools, among other initiatives.
- In the School of Business Administration, a new endowed faculty chair is teaching students to explore economic issues through the lens of our Marianist mission.
The trustees also helped us imagine new and redesigned facilities. Their gifts supported the:
- transformation of UD Arena, ensuring that our teams remains nationally competitive while providing a stellar experience for the Flyer Faithful
- construction of the Roger Glass Center for the Arts as a canvas for student creativity and collaboration
- expansion of the RecPlex to include a Student Health and Wellbeing Center, reflecting our commitment to the whole person
These spaces, like the endowed chairs and scholarships, are much more than bricks and mortar or new budget lines. They are investments in the people of UD and the promise the future holds.
It’s a vote of confidence.