EMU Today

YPSILANTI – The latest episode of EMU Today TV focuses on the EMU Foundation, whose mission is to support students, programs, services and the campus community. Now in its eighth season, EMU Today TV, produced by the University’s Division of Communications, highlights programs, events and initiatives at Eastern Michigan University.

EMU Foundation
Designated as the philanthropic arm of the university, this nonprofit entity helps to secure funding needs to advance the mission and achievement of institutional goals. Founded in 1989, the EMU Foundation accomplishes this through donor and alumni engagement, advocacy, and partnerships that helps to establish scholarships and contribute in the areas of annual giving, planned giving, corporate giving, matching gifts and faculty and staff campaign. 

In this episode, Maher Salah, Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the EMU Foundation discusses the important role philanthropy plays with the university and how it has helped address some of the unique challenges and opportunities at EMU as it pertains to student success, needs and priorities. 

“In a nutshell, philanthropy is the key to closing the gap and providing opportunities for an enhanced student experience,” said Salah. “From insufficient government funding to the financial challenges of our students to the availability of resources such as mental health and student employability, our donors and potential donors can help us eliminate barriers and foster learning.”

EMU Foundation depends on the support of our donors, alumni and community partners. 

Philanthropy in Action
Connecting donors to their passion is an essential part of the work at the EMU Foundation by helping individuals discover causes or projects that resonate deeply with their personal values, interests, and aspirations. When donors are aligned with something they genuinely care about, their engagement, investment, and impact are significantly greater.

EMU alum and EMU Foundation Board Trustee Molly Luempert-Coy (BS91, MA92) shares her journey as a donor through the establishment of the Lumpert-Coy Family Endowed Scholarship and the DTE Energy Foundation partnership, “Louie the Lightning Bug: Play It Safe Around Electricity”. Luempert-Coy will be joined with EMU faculty member and Professor of Interpretation/Performance Studies Anita Rich and alum and Lumpert-Coy Family Endowed Scholarship, Kate Inman (BA24). Together, they address the impact of donor contributions on student achievement and success. 

For more information on the foundation or to make a donation, visit https://www.emich.edu/foundation/. 

EMU Today TV
The EMU Division of Communications production is hosted by EMU alum Mark S. Lee. Lee is a part-time lecturer of marketing at Eastern. He is the host of the podcast "In the Conference Room" and is featured in a weekly business segment, "Strictly Business", on CBS News Detroit. Lee also is a frequent contributor to various Detroit-area media outlets on business topics. 

This episode, and previous editions can be viewed on the University's YouTube channel.

About EMU Foundation
In 1989, the EMU Regents founded the EMU Foundation, with the sole mission and purpose to provide additional financial support to students, programs, services, and the educational community of Eastern Michigan University.

The EMU Foundation is an institutionally-related nonprofit organization that solicits funds on behalf of the University, and manages donations that are made to help academic areas of need. The purpose is to increase the sources and amounts of private funds for the benefit of the University, and all fundraising activities and events undertaken by individual units of EMU are coordinated through the EMU Foundation. The funds are then used to support several areas, including student scholarships, programs, facility enhancement and development and faculty research and growth. The EMU Foundation is governed by an independent group of volunteers who serve as the Board of Trustees that elects its own officers.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, EMU is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.