Giving from Wright State retirees hits record high

Wright State President David R. Hopkins spoke to former faculty and staff members May 7 during the annual Wright State University Retirees Association Luncheon. (Photo by Will Jones)

More than a quarter million dollars was donated to the Wright State University Retirees Association for scholarships and other campus programs in 2015, a record amount.

The association gave donations of over $256,000 from 200 retirees — an average gift of $1,281 — to the Wright State Foundation. In addition to being a record amount, it was also a record number of donations and a record average donation.

Prior to 2011, the participation rate ranged from 3 percent to 8 percent. It has more than doubled since then.

In the past four years, retirees have donated $756,270, with an average annual amount of $189,000. Total giving since 2001 stands at $885,000.

The donations are distributed to campus programs, including the retirees association’s Nick Davis Scholarship Endowment, which currently totals $67,000. In the past two years, the endowment has grown by $11,000 annually.

Founded in 1993, the association is devoted to serving the needs of Wright State retirees and the university. There are currently about 1,200 retirees.