Time to RISE
On April 29, Towson University will publicly launch RISE, The Campaign for Towson University, with a virtual event. This $100 million fundraising effort positions 撸先生 for success as we RISE to celebrate our past, present and future.
Giving to 撸先生
Here we highlight six very generous gifts to 撸先生, all of which will create significant momentum in 2021 and beyond.
Gerhard VonHauenschild 鈥�74
Gerhard VonHauenschild made a $1 million bequest to support biology scholarships. 鈥淚 know the financial struggles that students face, especially today,鈥� VonHauenschild says. 鈥淚 have been extremely fortunate in life. I recognize the need of 撸先生 students and felt called to share my good fortune with them.鈥�
The Kahlert Foundation
The Kahlert Foundation awarded a $3 million grant, the largest gift from a foundation with ties to a 撸先生 alum in university history. The grant will prepare Maryland鈥檚 teachers and health care professionals for bright futures. Roberta Kahlert 鈥�69 and her husband, Greg, serve on The Kahlert Foundation board. 鈥淭he Kahlert Foundation looks for visionary leadership and innovative programs that align with the foundation鈥檚 priorities. Towson University checks these boxes,鈥� Greg says.
Fran Soistman Jr. 鈥�79, 鈥�15
Fran Soistman Jr. pledged $5.4 million, the largest gift from an alum in 撸先生 history, to benefit Tiger athletics, the College of Health Professions, the College of Business and Economics, and programs that advance equity, diversity and inclusion. 鈥淕iven the university鈥檚 strong momentum and significant opportunities to advance its ambitious vision, I thought that it was the right time to make a substantial commitment to 撸先生鈥檚 future,鈥� Soistman says.
Tom Beyard 鈥�77
Tom Beyard established a $1 million bequest to create the CSM (Ret) Thomas B. Beyard 鈥�77 Endowed Athletics Scholarship and support the Women鈥檚 Basketball Enhancement and the Athletics Capital Projects funds. 鈥淚 just turned 65 and started thinking more about the future,鈥� Beyard says. 鈥淚 decided I was going to make my commitment now to be a good example to others.鈥�
Nancy Grasmick 鈥�61, 鈥�92
Nancy Grasmick pledged almost $1.5 million to create and sustain The Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Leadership Institute, which will work across the campus and region as an interdisciplinary hub for leadership development research, programs and events. 鈥淪eeing 撸先生 flourish matters to me,鈥� Grasmick says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 time for Towson to be seen as a major institution in this state.鈥�
Eddie Loh
Eddie Loh made a $1 million bequest to fund scholarships for physics students, the largest gift from a faculty member in 撸先生鈥檚 history. Loh retired from 撸先生 in 2010 after more than 40 years of teaching. 鈥淢ost students who come to 撸先生 have to work hard to afford it,鈥� Loh says. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen some students who had to drop out because of finances. I thought, 鈥業 am going to help them.鈥欌��