2023 Founders Day Giving Challenge

Huge thank you to the generous gold and blue sponsors!

SNHU donor Bea Dalton ’73, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, thrived as a student at New Hampshire College. She studied business education, attending classes at the former downtown Manchester location. Dreaming of following in her mother’s footsteps into finance, Bea developed the skills she needed to become a successful bank auditor. Bea says she feels “honored to have gotten an education here and all that it has allowed [her] to do."

 Throughout her professional life, Bea says that one thing has remained constant – the importance of education. 

“Education is the key. The key to so much of what we all could be. And the world can be a better place if we all had the education to accept it.” 

Bea grew up learning the importance of giving back to your community from a young age, having watched her parents dedicate much of their time to philanthropy. Wanting to continue that legacy, Bea contributes to the Career and Professional Development Internship Scholarship, a scholarship that allows students to prioritize gaining hands-on experience by alleviating the expenses related to pursuing an unpaid internship.

"New Hampshire College was my community," said Bea, "who I am, being as successful as I could be, it was because of New Hampshire College. I got my education and I wanted to give back so that somebody else could do the same.” 

With less than 8 hours remaining in the Founders Day Giving Challenge, will you join Bea in impacting the lives of SNHU students?

Campus senior Olivia Gage recently began her final year studying psychology and music at SNHU. She’s always loved music, having been involved with choir since third grade; her curiosity for psychology developed after being diagnosed with generalized anxiety and minor depression at 13.  A moving interaction with her grandfather prompted her to marry her two passions with an SNHU degree. While visiting with him in his nursing home, she put on some music. Once she pressed play, her grandfather, who had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, was alert and talking for the first time in years. That moment solidified her desire to explore the use of music therapy as a tool to help people with dementia and Alzheimer's communicate.  

Thanks to the donors who contributed to the Career and Professional Development Internship Scholarship, she secured an internship this past summer planning and running events for the Easterseals Adult Day Program. That experience helped her gain real world understanding and skills that are critical for a music therapist. Olivia says, “I truly hope that my work will help people like my grandfather and their families. My gratitude is boundless for the donors who helped me further my education and follow my dreams.”

Your generosity today, through a gift to SNHU’s biggest fundraiser of the year, is validation of the commitment of so many SNHU learners like Olivia. What began as a tiny privately funded accounting school in downtown Manchester serving 45 students is now a nonprofit university serving more than 180,000 learners across the globe! What hasn’t changed throughout the years since SNHU’s founding in 1932 is our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable and innovative pathways to meet the unique needs of every learner. As we celebrate SNHU’s 91st anniversary, we invite you to join us all in reflection of our rich history and anticipation of a bright future. Give to an area that makes you proud to be part of the SNHU community.

Wow! The SNHU community knows how to rally around our learners. You've helped us meet the 32 Hour Chair Challenge AND reach half of our goal with 5 days left! We are grateful for your dedication and support. How much further can we go?

Board of Trustees Chair Winnie Lerner challenges the SNHU community to help reach our goal! In honor of SNHU’s founding in 1932, for every $1 donated during the next 32 hours of the campaign, Winnie will match $2, up to $10,000! Your support will mean the difference for many students who have dreams of earning their degree at SNHU, but who lack the necessary financial resources to make their dreams come true.