Mary Vanier, Manhattan, Kansas, has established a second Mary L. Vanier K-State Family Scholarship match fund of $1 million to create 30 additional matching gift scholarships for Kansas State University students as part of the K-State Family Scholarship Program. This new gift continues the momentum of the KSU Foundation’s Family Scholarship Program begun in 2017.
What began as a $650,000 gift received a year ago launched the KSU Foundation Family Scholarship Program, and became a $6 million-and-growing investment in K-State students. Loyal and generous donors like Vanier created matching opportunities for new donors to establish their first endowed gift to the university. Already, 90 students have received these K-State Family Scholarships and new donors can help even more talented and deserving K-State students afford their education. Vanier’s first Family Matching Scholarship fund cultivated over 30 new donors to benefit students across the university.
As before, the second Mary L. Vanier K-State Family Scholarship will be used to match at least 30 new gifts for student scholarships. New gifts of $30,000 will be matched with $30,000 from Vanier’s latest gift. $10,000 will go into an expendable scholarship fund, making $2,000 scholarships immediately available to students for up to five years. The remaining $50,000 will go into the endowment, ensuring future generations of Wildcats will receive scholarships as well.
“We know it’s going to take all of us to stand up for K-State and make it possible for hard-working students to pursue and complete their education,” Vanier said. “K-State alumni and friends generously answered the first call to match scholarship funds and by their commitment inspired this new match. I am excited to see how far the K-State family and this program will go to recruit and assist exceptional students and invite new donors to participate in making Kansas State University the leader for student support among land-grant universities.”
The success of the K-State Family Scholarship Program continues to ripple across the academy and among alumni, friends and donors who compound Vanier’s investment in student scholarships.
“K-State family has responded enthusiastically to the initial K-State Family Scholarship opportunities as a meaningful way to support students and cultivate new donors who are committed to Kansas State University,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of the KSU Foundation. “So many people have claimed their place in the ‘family tree’ of K-State Family Scholarships. Participation signals their commitment to meet the needs of future students and to progress the university’s land-grant mission of offering excellent, affordable and accessible education to all.”
If you are interested in participating in the K-State Family Scholarship Program, visit www.ksufoundation.org/family for more information or contact Stephanie Froehlich, senior vice president of development, at 785-775-2007.
As Kansas State University’s strategic partner for philanthropy, the KSU Foundation inspires and guides philanthropy toward university priorities to boldly advance K-State family. The foundation is leading Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion for student success, faculty development, facility enhancement and programmatic success.
