A historic gift from the Abbey

SAINT MARTIN’S ABBEY

CREATES HISTORIC MATCHING FUND FOR ENDOWMENTS

“Education is the abbey’s apostolate. With the matching fund, we want to honor generous benefactors who share and support Saint Martin’s

University’s work.”

—Abbot Marion Nguyen, O.S.B., Chancellor This fall, Saint Martin’s Abbey created a $4.6 million matching fund to support gifts that will help grow Saint Martin’s University’s endowment. Endowments play a critical role both in terms of scholarship support for our students and in strategic program support in perpetuity. “Education is the abbey’s apostolate,” shared Abbot Marion Nguyen, O.S.B., Saint Martin’s University chancellor. “With the matching fund, we want to honor generous benefactors who share and support Saint Martin’s University’s work.” The announcement of the matching fund has already inspired several Saints supporters, longstanding as well as new donors, to give. • Christine Schaller ’93 and Christopher Kradjan added to the Ed Schaller, Jr. Scholarship Endowment, a fund that was established in honor of Christine’s father in 2001, as a way to honor her father’s memory and the Abbey. • Gabe Wadsworth ’14 and Kira Milligan-Wadsworth ’17 created a new scholarship endowment to support students in the School of Business. Their decision to give back was influenced by being beneficiaries of scholarships when they were students at Saint Martin’s University and the belief that it is important to use your resources to help others. • Joe HS ’62, ’64 and Betty Alongi established an estate gift along with their regular annual support. “As a Saint Martin’s High School and College alum during the 60’s, this was my home,” shared Joe Alongi. “Our children and grandchildren, along with other family members, also attended, so it is important for our family to pay that forward.” Shared President Roy Heynderickx, “Like many colleges and universities, we faced unprecedented challenges over the past year that forced us to examine why we are here and how we can better serve our students. This matching fund will ensure that we continue to strengthen our academic offerings and structures of support while increasing access for current and future Saints.”

The Abbey’s match doubles gifts to existing or new endowments created through one-time, multiyear or estate commitments. Questions about the Abbey’s gift or how to add to or create an endowment can be directed to the Office of Institutional Advancement at advancement@stmartin.edu or 360-438-4366.

SAINT MARTIN’S BEGINS SEARCH FOR 11th PRESIDENT

Last spring, President Heynderickx announced that he will retire at the end of the 2021-22 academic year. Over the summer, a search firm, RH Perry, was chosen and a presidential search committee was formed with representatives from the abbey, board of trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and students. The university is looking for a president who will lead Saint Martin’s to its next level of financial security and academic prominence through strategic vision; transparent servant leadership; and the passionate articulation of its Catholic Benedictine mission and values. After a national outreach effort, applications were received in November. Semi-finalists will be selected in December and interviewed off campus in January. The goal will be to invite three finalists to campus in February, with the plan to announce a new president by the end of February. The new president would take office in July 2022. More information about the search can be found at www.stmartin.edu/presidentialsearch.