Fairmont State Foundation announces scholarship campaign

The Fairmont State Foundation appropriately chose Giving Tuesday, the unofficial start to the holiday giving season, to announce a new scholarship campaign aimed at closing the gap between two- and four-year student scholarships. The campaign aims to raise $1.3 million over the next 12 months. 

“Every Gift Matters—The Scholarship Campaign is replacing the Fairmont Fund and 100% of gifts to this campaign will support student scholarships,” said Fairmont State Foundation President Gary K. Bennett. 

Currently, many Fairmont State scholarships only provide support for two years which is shy of the funding necessary for students to receive financial support for a four-year education. Every Gift Matters—The Scholarship Campaign has already raised more than $450,000 towards closing this scholarship gap and through the successful completion of this campaign, many more scholarships will be available for four years. 

“A couple months after I arrived at Fairmont State I became aware of the plight of many of our students. The fact that many of them were working full-time jobs while going to school full time and taking care of families,” President Dr. Mirta Martin said. “Part of what we do here at Fairmont State University is enable our students to become their best self, part of what we do is to show them a path to a bright future, part of what we do here at Fairmont State University is to ensure our students have access to their American dream, and that access is not available without a proper education. The name of our campaign is significant because every gift truly matters. Many of us are where we are today because someone believed enough to give a gift. And now we have the opportunity to believe in our future Falcons through our financial support.”

In order to provide as much support as possible, Fairmont State alumni Gary and Renee LeDonne have stepped forward as the Leadership donor for this campaign. In addition, the Fairmont State Foundation will match every gift to the campaign, up to $250,000. 

“When Renee and I were walking on campus as students we had no idea how well we were being prepared by our professors,” said Gary LeDonne. “Because of that education we are able to make this gift today. Every Gift Matters is the perfect opportunity on this Day of Giving to really bridge that gap to help our students go from two-year scholarship, which all statistics show that’s where we have a lot of drop off, where students get through their second year and drop out because they can’t afford the last two years. The purpose and goal of this campaign is to close that gap.”

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media. As such, social media will play a large part in Every Gift Matters—The Scholarship Campaign, especially during the next few weeks. Through a series of videos, viewers will get to hear from students who have received scholarship support and the impact that support has had. 

As we enter the charitable giving season, anyone interested in supporting current and future Falcons through a gift for Every Gift Matters—The Scholarship Campaign can visit www.fairmontstate.edu/egmscholarship. Gifts can also be made directly with the Foundation by calling (304) 534-8786.

Fairmont State FoundationEvery Gift MattersGary LeDonneGary Bennett