Friends, alumni give generously to PSU

Pittsburg State University's many friends and alumni helped the PSU Foundation raise more than $9 million in the fiscal year that just ended, according to Dr. Brad Hodson, director of the Office of University Development. The $8.9 million the university received in cash and in-kind gifts was a record, Hodson said.

"Pittsburg State University continues to benefit from the incredible generosity of our alumni and friends," Hodson said. "This enabled the PSU Foundation to award more than $1.9 million in scholarships this past year."

Hodson prepared his report for the PSU Foundation annual meeting on the Pittsburg State campus on Aug. 25.

Among the highlights of the report, Hodson pointed to 12,398 total donors and 1,865 new donors. Total gifts for the year were $9,356,820. Included in that total was $402,197 in planned gifts and $8,954,623 in cash and in-kind gifts.

The university is in the midst of a $120 million capital campaign. This year's success puts the university at the half-way mark, Hodson said, with a total raised to date of nearly $59.5 million.

"We have great hope for the future and we believe the university's friends and alumni will continue to be generous and supportive," Hodson said.

Hodson said private giving is the foundation for much of the university's success over the years.

"Scholarships that make education accessible, new facilities, new classroom technology – all have been affected by private giving," Hodson said.

The Pittsburg State University Foundation traces its roots to the Endowment Association founded in 1951. The current organization is the result of the merger of the Endowment Association and the Alumni Foundation in 1985. Today, the PSU Foundation has assets in excess of $50 million.

For more information, call the PSU Office of Development at 620-235-4768 or visit the Development Web site at www.pittstate.edu/devel.

---Pitt State---