2024 President's Holiday Gala

Published: December 20, 2024 | Read Time: 2 minutes

A December 12 evening of recognition, gratitude, and celebration—an annual hallmark of the holiday season—gathered nearly 400 of SUU’s most loyal supporters, members of the Old Main Society and the President’s Giving Society, for the 2024 Holiday Gala in the Sharwan Smith Center Ballroom.

SUU’s benefactors, whose financial support is key to the development and operation of the institution, span several levels of giving. The President’s Giving Society includes five tiers of giving, beginning with cash and gifts-in-kind of more than $1,000 annually.

Old Main Society membership recognizes those whose cumulative cash, in-kind or deferred gifts reaches $50,000.

Expressly honored at the 2024 Gala were the Marriner S. Eccles Foundation and the Rich and Linda Wilson Family.

The Mariner S. Eccles Foundation was created by its namesake, who established First Security Corporation and went on to serve the nation as the 7th chairman of the Federal Reserve for 15 years. His charitable foundation and its corollary Eccles foundations have ever supported the University in a variety of ways, including bolstering the holdings of the Gerald R. Sherratt Library and the institution’s new music center, now under construction.

Benefactors Rich and Linda Wilson of Cedar City have long been valued contributors to the quality of life in the area and have ever been committed to the University’s success. They sent all four of their children to Southern Utah University for both bachelor’s and master’s degree and each has ever supported the institution as well. Both Linda and Rich have delivered exceptional service to the institution in a variety of ways.

Inducted that night into the University’s Old Main Society were Dr. Michael & Kelly Anderson, Rafe Brown & Lynn Song, BZI, Lorraine & Perry Driggs, Erickson Inc., Alan & Jeannine Hall, Clark & Christine Ivory Foundation, Paul & Connie Taysom, Dr. Camille Thomas, Texas Instruments, Carmen H. Watson Trust, and Wittwer Hospitality/BLVD Home.

President Mindy Benson addressed the crowd, offering heartfelt thanks to attendees, whose support of the institution is a critical need in fulfilling the University’s mission. Following the dinner and ceremonies, attendees were treated to a special Christmas concert in the America First Event Center on campus by the ever-popular GENTRI in the vocal trio’s offering of holiday
classics.

Tags: Advancement Donor-Impact Community

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SUU Advancement