I guess it’s about time for somebody to step up and say that, as an ISU student, I’m grateful that the ISU Foundation is out there working to raise money so that students like me can receive scholarships. The Poison Ink cartoon in the Nov. 30 Daily made me stop and think how few of us realize what these people are doing for us.

Scholarships, academic programs, facilities and more exist in part at Iowa State because of the private gifts given to the university through the Foundation – gifts we would not receive without dedicated staff who identify and work with donors to support the university’s needs and goals. Right now, 3,500 ISU students are receiving privately-funded scholarships totalling $7.5 million. Have you used the instruction commons at the library? Private support helped put it there.

If you have classes in Howe or Palmer, or will have classes in the Gerdin Business Building, do you think the state or tuition money completely funded those buildings? More than $30 million in private donations went into these buildings.

Gifts also include the $9 million contribution from alumni Robert and Dianne Greenlee that gave journalism students a new school and facilities.

I know this because I’m serving as chair of the Student Foundation Committee. But this information, plus a lot more about where the money comes from, how it is spent and invested, is available by asking.

As students, we should support the work of the ISU Foundation. As funding from the state gets cut, private support will be more critical to Iowa State and to us. Join me in thanking the more than 52,000 donors who are helping ISU students “become their best.”

Nate Brinkley

Senior

Exercise science