Celebrating Gina Deschamps ’92G Outgoing Foundation President
fundraising campaign, 10,000 Reasons, which raised $26.5 million. “The [10,000 Reasons] campaign taught us a lot about how to raise money at a greater level, with everyone pitching in, moving together toward a single goal and making SSU better than it was yesterday,” Gina shares.
Virtually every corner of Salem State University has been positively impacted by Gina Deschamps ’ 92G. The outgoing president and 13-year member of the Salem State University Foundation Board of Directors has helped to achieve new levels of philanthropy, innovation and volunteerism across the institution. She now serves as an advisor to the board. During Gina’s tenure, she helped to quadruple the Foundation’s annual financial support to the university by championing SSU’s first comprehensive
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YOUR IMPACT IN ACTION
“Gina was at the forefront of the 10,000 Reasons campaign, serving on university search committees— including the most recent search for our current university president, John Keenan—and the campaign’s steering committee,” says Cheryl Crounse, SSU’s vice president of institutional advancement and the Foundation’s executive director. “Gina has set up the Foundation for great success.” A role model for giving back, Gina has attended and volunteered for more than 50 SSU events over the past 13 years, and provided significant charitable support alongside her husband, Hank. The couple furthered their generosity with in-kind printing services and longstanding Salem State Series sponsorships from their former company, Deschamps Printing. “It’s a good feeling to pay it forward,” Gina says. “We owe it to the students.
