March 26, 2025

SVSU’s annual fundraising event smashes goal

Two-day campaign garners nearly $200,000 in support

Young woman looking at camera with phone to ear

Friends, employees and alumni of Saginaw Valley State University came through in record-breaking fashion by generously giving nearly $200,000 during Oppor2nity Days 2025, smashing its goal of raising $100,000 and setting a new Oppor2nity Days fundraising record.

During the two-day celebration of philanthropy that took place on March 19-20, the university received 356 gifts totaling $197,721 from faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends from all over the country. This represents a 53% increase in dollars raised over the highly successful 2024 campaign.

Thanks in part to the launch of the Cardinal 100 program during Oppor2nity Days, SVSU alumni made up 63% of the overall number of gifts.

“This was my first Oppor2nity days at SVSU and to say I was impressed by the generosity of the Cardinal community would be an understatement,” Vice President for Development Brian Brunner said. “The support that we received will have an extraordinary impact that reaches to all corners of our campus.”
Oppor2nity Days 2025 featured 10 priority initiatives across all five colleges and multiple departments on campus, and it maintained the option for donors to give to whichever fund or funds mattered most to them.

“I have always been a believer in saying to donors ‘your gift, your choice’ when it comes to determining where to direct their support,” Brunner said. “We have so many great options for donors to impact student success and achieve their philanthropic goals.”

During this year’s event, donors supported 44 different areas on campus including academic programs, student scholarships, intercollegiate athletics, the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum and much more.

This year’s record-breaking effort was bolstered by several individuals and local businesses that pledged match and challenge gifts totaling more than $100,000 for donations made during the campaign. Those donors are: John Kaczynski and Martha Zehnder Kaczynski; Bavarian Inn; Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith PC; Covenant HealthCare; Manvel and Caressa Trice; Curtis and Ronda Grosse; Glastender; Jessica Bentoski Pediatric Dental Specialist; Gene Hamilton; Carlos and Jean Ramet; Dr. Brent M. and Dr. Bradi K. Boyce; Dr. Raymond J. and Julie A. Dean; Terry J. and Cindy Lutz; Janet and John Sternberg; Spence Brothers; Aaron P. Mowen; the Marshall M. Fredericks Museum board of advisors; the SVSU Foundation board of directors; and staff from the SVSU Development Division.

The annual fundraising event also aims to educate students on the importance of philanthropy in the educational experience. As part of that effort, 37 SVSU students made phone calls over the course of the week to thank past donors and encourage support, totaling over 160 hours of calling.