SPRING 2023 SPECIAL EDITION | A NEW ENERGY AT U-M
Leaders & Best shares stories that celebrate Michigan’s philanthropic spirit and impact on our world.
Mighty Michigan Women
Their vision and generosity is blazing a trail for future leaders
BY ANISSA GABBARA | 6 MIN READ
The remarkable impact of women’s philanthropy at Michigan is far and wide, from the campaign to build the Michigan League in the 1920s to recent transformational gifts to the arts, STEM scholarships, women in finance initiatives, and more. This support not only equips female leaders for future leadership at Michigan, it bolsters women’s contributions to shaping U-M programs and priorities. With Women’s History Month underway, Leaders & Best spoke with philanthropists Mary Petrovich (BSEIO ’85) and Teresa Sebastian (BGS ’78) about why women’s philanthropy matters, what inspires them to give, and what they envision for the future.
“We’re moving women up in terms of status and visibility, and as those things happen, the philanthropic endeavors and opportunities will continue to grow,” Petrovich said.
Disability does not equal Inability
U-M program brings adaptive sports and fitness to the campus community and beyond
BY MADELINE SWANSON | 6 MIN READ
The energy is high under the bright lights of Crisler Center for the intrasquad wheelchair basketball game.
Members of the team participate in U-M’s Adaptive Sports & Fitness program (ASF), which works to destigmatize disability and increase participation in adaptive sports and fitness among people with and without disabilities. With help from donors, ASF has grown from informal games, to an official program with teams that compete nationally.
For wheelchair tennis player and Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Scholarship recipient Caiden Baxter (LSA Class of 2023), donor support has played a critical role in his experiences as a para athlete.
“It’s not just the financial support, but the emotional support,” Baxter said. “It’s knowing there’s people watching—that there’s people that care.”
A NEW ENERGY AT U-M
A Conversation with President Ono
Michigan’s new president shares his passion for philanthropy and excitement about all things Maize and Blue
BY ANN MARIE ALIOTTA | 8 MIN READ
Santa J. Ono clearly gets his energy from being around other people. Since becoming the University of Michigan’s 15th president in October, he’s regularly spotted around campus talking with students, problem-solving with faculty, and enjoying events from concerts to gymnastic meets to symposia. He works out at the IM Building and has practiced cello at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He even tossed a few in January’s epic snowball fight on the Diag.
In his office, he’s surrounded by images of people who inspire him—his parents on their wedding day, his daughters before their ballet recital, photos with Barack Obama, Justin Trudeau, Yo-Yo Ma, even a selfie with Emmanuel Macron. In a recent snapshot, Ono beams with delight standing against the iconic brick wall of the Big House with a crowd of students, resplendent in maize and blue, cheering behind him.
Ono beams brightest, however, when talking about U-M. With trademark zeal, he details the many ways the university exceeds expectations—our academic distinction, our elite student-athletes, the mastery of our artists, and our passionate philanthropic spirit. His Twitter account reads like “points of pride” for U-M, as post after post celebrates all corners of the university with a refreshing sense of energy and joy.
Perhaps his enthusiastic championing, grounded in a genuine respect for collaboration and community, makes Ono the exact right person at the exact right time to lead U-M. Leaders & Best recently sat down with him to find out, and to hear more about his visioning process, his engagement with donors, and to learn why he “can’t wait to get to campus” every morning!
Giving by the Numbers
Donors gave to the University of Michigan with extraordinary generosity in the last fiscal year, making it the second best fundraising year in Michigan history.
Gifts in Action
School of Education named in recognition of Marsal family
Honoring commitments totaling over $55 million, the Marsal Family School of Education is named for the family of Bryan (BBA ’73, MBA ’75) and Kathleen Marsal (ABEd ’72, TeachCert ’72), and their children Megan Marsal Kirsch (ABEd ’14, TeachCert ’14) and Michael Marsal (BBA ’10, La Salle University). A new $50 million gift will support initiatives to prepare a diverse population of teachers, build robust partnerships with schools and communities, and conduct research with education practitioners.
New hospital named for philanthropists D. Dan and Betty Kahn
The D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, supported by a $50 million gift from the Kahn Foundation, will honor Dan and Betty’s dedication to U-M and the public good. Scheduled to open in fall 2025, the 12-floor, $920 million facility will include 264 private inpatient rooms, a top-notch neurosciences center, and specialty services for cardiovascular and thoracic care. It will also feature 20 surgical and three interventional radiology suites.
Giving Blueday 2023 brings community together to support U-M
For 24 hours, alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends joined in and gave to the causes they most care about at Michigan, making a real difference on U-M’s annual day of giving. Together, and through gifts of all sizes, they impacted the university’s ability to support important initiatives, organizations, and projects benefiting the arts; diversity, equity, and inclusion; medicine; research; students; sustainability; and much more.
About the Cover: A New Energy at U-M designed by Adam Beeman (BA ’14) and Nate Bynum.
Leaders & Best
Vice President for Development
Senior Executive Director, Marketing & Communications
Senior Director, Leadership Communications
Director of Creative Marketing
Senior Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications
Director of Digital Marketing
Associate Director of Communications
Senior Project Manager
Creative Team
Digital Team
Writers
University of Michigan Board of Regents
Michael J. Behm, Grand Blanc
Mark J. Bernstein, Ann Arbor
Paul W. Brown, Ann Arbor
Sarah Hubbard, Okemos
Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms
Ron Weiser, Ann Arbor
Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor
Santa J. Ono, ex officio
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Published 3.28.2023