Celebrate 50 Years of Impact

As we celebrate our first 50 years, we're also investing in the future through THRIVES, the College's collaborative initiative to strengthen the health workforce, improve community well-being, and expand access to care across West Michigan. The projects below help advance that vision while creating lasting opportunities for our students, faculty, patients, and community partners.

Whether your gift is $50 or $50,000, every contribution moves us closer to completing these projects and preparing the next generation of health professionals.

How to Participate

  1. Make your gift online.
  2. Select which initiative you'd like to support.

Leadership gifts ($10,000+) can be pledged over 3-5 years.

To discuss a gift by check, donor-advised fund, appreciated stock, IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution, or another planned giving option, please contact: Spencer Haworth Chief Development Officer at spencer.haworth@wmich.edu

Celebrate 50 Years of Impact As part of the College of Health and Human Services' 50th Anniversary, we're inviting alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and community partners to help fund 50 meaningful initiatives that directly benefit our students, faculty, clinics, and community. As we celebrate our first 50 years, we're also investing in the future through THRIVES, the College's collaborative initiative to strengthen the health workforce, improve community well-being, and expand access to care across West Michigan. The projects below help advance that vision while creating lasting opportunities for our students, faculty, patients, and community partners. Whether your gift is $25 or $250,000, every contribution moves us closer to completing these projects and preparing the next generation of health professionals. How to Participate 1. Make your gift online. 2. Select which initiative you'd like to support. 3. If you would like to make a significant investment or name an endowment or facility, please contact Chief Development Officer, Spencer Haworth. Pillar 1: Access and Affordability Scholarships, fellowships, and emergency support help talented students enroll, persist, and graduate. Gifts support: • First-Generation Student Scholarship • Emergency student micro-grants • Student wellness kits • Graduate school application fee assistance • Academic backpacks • Textbooks for high-need courses • Certification and licensure exam fees Leadership opportunities include (gifts of $50,000+): • Named endowed scholarship • Named First-Year Success Scholarship • Named Graduate Fellowship • 50th Anniversary Legacy Fund for First-Generation Students Pillar 2: Experiential Learning Hands-on learning experiences prepare students to enter the workforce with confidence. Gifts support: • Paid internship stipends • Paid clinical stipends • Student scrubs • Professional graduation headshots • Local conference travel • Professional association memberships • Conference registration scholarships • Student research stipends • Conference travel scholarships • Sponsor The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy. • Immersion Day Sponsor Leadership opportunities include (gifts of $50,000+): • Naming one of the Unified Clinics Pillar 3: Faculty Excellence and Innovation Outstanding faculty create exceptional student experiences while advancing research, innovation, and community partnerships. Many of these investments help advance THRIVES, the College's collaborative effort to strengthen the health workforce and improve health outcomes across our region. Gifts support: • Student organization mini-grants • Faculty professional development awards • Community-based research projects • Health equity research grants • Service-learning initiatives • Innovation grants Leadership opportunities include (gifts of $50,000+): • Endowed Research & Innovation Fund • Faculty Innovation Endowment • Named Lecture Series ($250,000) • Endowed Chair or Director ($1.5 million) • Endowed Program or Department ($5 million) Pillar 4: Facilities and Clinical Spaces Modern, accessible spaces allow students to learn using the same technology they'll encounter in practice while expanding services to our community. Gifts support: • Clinical laptops • Simulation and lab equipment • Clinical space improvements Leadership opportunities include: • High-Fidelity Simulation Manikin ($200,000) • Naming Student Engagement Center ($500,000) • Naming CHHS Atrium ($1 million) • Naming Center for Disability Services ($3 million) • CHHS Building Naming Opportunity ($10 million) Want to get your business, family foundation, employer involved? Become a THRIVES Partner THRIVES stands for Translating Health Resources and InnoVating through Engagement and Services. THRIVES brings together healthcare providers, employers, foundations, school districts, nonprofits, and community organizations that share a commitment to improving health outcomes and strengthening the future healthcare workforce. THRIVES partners: • Invest philanthropically in student success, workforce development, research, or innovation. • Collaborate on workforce solutions, clinical education, and applied research. • Provide internships, clinical placements, and experiential learning opportunities. • Support faculty innovation and community-based initiatives. • Participate in regional conversations that address healthcare workforce shortages and improve access to care. Partnerships are tailored to each organization's goals and may include recognition, engagement opportunities, and collaborative programming. Questions? Leadership gifts can be pledged over 3-5 years. To discuss a gift by check, donor-advised fund, appreciated stock, IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution, or another planned giving option, please contact: Spencer Haworth Chief Development Officer College of Health and Human Services spencer.haworth@wmich.edu