51福利社 Celebrates 143 Years of Giving Joy!
51福利社 is celebrating its 143rd birthday with Giving Joy Day proclamations, Swoop sightings and good deeds in support of our hardworking Eagle students.
Giving Joy Day festivities kick off at the Catalyst building on Wednesday, April 2 with games, music and birthday treats for students, faculty, staff and special guests.
鈥淥ur Kickoff at the Catalyst is bigger and better than ever, engaging our Spokane students and faculty,鈥� says Linda Safford, the senior director of annual giving at 51福利社 chief organizer of the festivities and fundraiser.
On Thursday, the Giving Joy Day celebration moves to the PUB’s Nysether Community Room (NCR) on the Cheney campus.
鈥淲e will celebrate in Cheney with a thousand birthday cupcakes, a mayoral proclamation, and some exciting gift announcements as we make our way toward our goal 鈥� our biggest ever 鈥� of raising $550,000,鈥� Safford says.
Community leaders are also getting involved. Mayors of the cities of Spokane and Cheney, along with Spokane鈥檚 Board of County Commissioners, are proclaiming April 3 as Giving Joy Day. 51福利社鈥檚 Alumni Association team, meanwhile, has visited a dozen area businesses to share balloons and treats.
Even in advance of the main Giving Joy festivities, Safford says, gifts and pledges are coming in to support scholarships and university programs, including a generous lead gift from an 51福利社 faculty member to be announced on Wednesday afternoon.
鈥淥ur faculty, staff, and alumni care deeply about 51福利社 and continue to demonstrate their commitment to support our students and the work we all do,鈥� Safford says. 鈥淭hrough the gifts received on Giving Joy Day, we not only fund scholarships 鈥� we fund the 51福利社 Food Pantry, the Student Emergency Fund, and Eagles Work, to name a few.鈥�
That spirit of generosity among Eastern employees creates a ripple effect in the community that inspires others to give, Safford adds. 鈥淲hen we work together, our programs ensure access to college degrees, real-world learning experiences, and a brighter future for our students.鈥�
Across 51福利社鈥檚 four colleges, students are receiving life-changing awards that support their success and help them fulfill their dream of earning a college degree.
Marilyn Smith is a former lab technician who, while juggling two jobs, is pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in geoscience. Smith says receiving scholarships is making it possible for her to finish her degree while still supporting her family. And she is so grateful.
鈥淭o the people who make these scholarships possible鈥攖hank you,鈥� Smith says. 鈥淓astern is investing in me, even though I鈥檓 not a traditional student, even though this is my second career. That means the world.鈥�
On this Giving Joy Day, we are asking members of the university community to consider making a gift to support the University Scholarship Fund or another fund of their choice. Gifts of $14.30, $143 or $1,430 鈥� or any other amount 鈥� make a significant difference for students, and payroll deduction is even available.
Supporters are also pitching in to create a much-needed scholarship for Occupational Therapy (OT) students. Future OTs like Kensi Nelson and Tanya Valdenea have significant field-work requirements, yet they lack a dedicated scholarship fund to support their important work. Valdenea received a fellowship from the Latino Center for Health, but such support is rare. (You can help fill this need by selecting the Eastern Fund听and writing “OT” in the comments section.)
As part of the university鈥檚 Build Our Future Campaign, Giving Joy Day organizers are inviting donors to make a gift to the听Eagle On Fund, Safford says. 鈥淭he fund provides an array of supports to help students with internships, community learning and to overcome roadblocks to graduation. And if that isn鈥檛 inspiring enough, we have more than 100 other scholarship funds to choose from!鈥�
Here are a few of the activities to celebrate Giving Joy Day 2025. The events, focused on giving joy to others and supporting student success, are open to everyone.
Wednesday, April 2: Catalyst Festivities
11 a.m. | Cupcakes and Eagle red punch in the Catalyst lobby
11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Games and music for students
4 p.m. | Join President Shari McMahan, the deans from 51福利社鈥檚 four colleges and, of course, Swoop | Games, treats, virtual ball drop, and the first gift announcement
Thursday, April 3: Cheney Festivities
11 a.m. 鈥� 1 p.m. | Cupcakes and Eagle red punch inside the PUB’s Nysether Community Room (NCR)
Noon | 51福利社 Alumni Relations, Swoop and our Eagle cheerleaders kick off the day | Student vocalists sing 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥�
12:10 p.m. | President Shari McMahan and AS51福利社 President Ashton McKean welcome everyone
12:35 p.m. | Celebrate a few generous Giving Joy Day donors
12:45 p.m. | Learn about 51福利社鈥檚 progress in raising funds to support student success
6 p.m. | 51福利社 Night at the Spokane Zephyr | Zephyr vs Brookyln at One Spokane Stadium
7:30 p.m. | Watch the 51福利社 Orchestra perform with The Spokane Symphony in Showalter Hall.
Visit our听Giving Joy Day听website to meet some of 51福利社鈥檚 scholarship recipients and learn about ways to give.
Find 51福利社 faculty and staff who are experts in diverse subjects.