Giving

Giving

GIVE TO Pennwest california

Make Your Gift Today

PennWest California relies on donations from alumni and University friends to provide scholarships for our students and to support other University initiatives.

Your support can change the lives of our students, and we thank you in advance for your generosity. Every gift, large or small, has the power to make a real difference.

We invite you to give online now, using our secure server. To send your gift by mail, simply print and complete the form by clicking the button bellow. All gifts are tax deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your gift.

Please make your check payable to the Foundation for California University of Pennsylvania, which manages the University's endowment and processes all online gifts.

Foundation for California University of Pennsylvania
P.O. Box 668
California, PA 15419
 
 

GIVE ONLINE

Why Give to PennWest California?

Scholarships remain our students' greatest need. Your gift can make a difference in the life of a PennWest California student. Here's why your gift matters:

  • More than nine out of 10 of PennWest California students qualify for financial aid. Scholarships can ease the financial burden for eligible students.
  • A steep decline in support for public higher education has raised tuition costs dramatically in recent years. Today, state funding covers less than 30% of the cost of a PennWest California degree.
  • PennWest California students graduate with an average loan debt of $23,000. Scholarships enable students to borrow less and pay off their student loans sooner.
  • Nearly two-thirds of PennWest California seniors graduating with student loan debt come from families with a total household income of $50,000 or less. Often, a scholarship makes a positive difference for the student's entire family.
  • PennWest California historically has opened doors for students who otherwise would not have access to higher education. 
  • PennWest California graduates tend to remain in the region, putting their degrees to work and contributing to the regional economy. Scholarships help students stay at PennWest California until they earn a degree and begin a career.
  • PennWest California infuses $270 million into the Pennsylvania economy annually and $100 million into the economy of Washington County. Support for PennWest California students helps to ensure the vibrancy of the region.

The Value of a Gift

A single mom of three and a full-time student. A graduate whose ties to PennWest California go back more than 30 years. A student who relies on scholarship dollars to complete his education. These are just a few of the stories in the circle of philanthropy at PennWest California, where alumni who have gone on to enjoy successful lives give back, and current students in need of a helping hand find the help they need to achieve their dreams.

Watch and listen as donors and scholarship recipients' talk about why they give and why they're grateful.

Michele Mandell

 

Alumna Michele Karnash Mandell '69 discusses how scholarships played an important role in her education at PennWest California and the financial challenges that students face today. Mandell now serves on the University's Council of Trustees.

Alexandra Brooks

 

Alexandra Brooks talks about the hardships she faced as a teenager and how a PennWest California scholarship broke her cycle of life. Today she has bachelor's and master's degrees, and she is working in her field.

 

Dr. Mary Seman

Dr. Mary Seman, a professor of special education at cal U, shares her appreciation for the sacrifices her father made so that she could have an education.

Rachel Hoffman

Rachel Hoffman, a special education graduate, talks about how Dr. Mary Seman influenced her. "When I … entered a classroom of my own, I was truly able to appreciate all of the gifts that she had given me."

 

Contact Us
Phone: 724-938-5775
Fax: 724-938-4547
Email: novak_m@calu.edu

PennWest California
250 University Ave.
Campus Box 112
California, PA 15419
 
 

More Information
Give Online

Legacy and Planned Giving

Donor Recognition

Class Gift Drive

Athletics Day of Giving