On September 7, 2017, we received a $20 gift from then five-year-old Clara White. Her great-grandfather Gale Gleason had recently passed away and she wanted to give the $20 she found to the University where he worked.
Gale Gleason and Bill Gregory co-founded what became the ARL Fish Hatchery in the late 1970’s. The hatchery and related programs have become a hallmark of LSSU’s identity. The Atlantic Salmon fishery in the St. Mary’s River is popular locally and is destination for fishing enthusiasts from around the globe. This would not have occurred without the foresight and efforts by Gleason and Gregory.
Earlier this year, we received another letter from Clara in response to the Fund for LSSU mailer she received. While reading about the fund, she thought it would be a good idea to give some of her money to help students who need to go to college but don’t have enough money. Clara made a gift of $30 from her savings and asked her grandfather, Rick Hancock to make a gift and her great-grandmother, Shirley Gleason to make a donation as well. Together, they contributed $90 to help CFRE Hatchery students fund their research projects.
Clara’s Challenge is a mini-campaign within the Superior Give-A-Thon to raise $5,000 for CFRE Hatchery students to fund their research projects through the Fund for LSSU.
This is an amazing act of philanthropy by a nine-year-old to make the decision to support LSSU students who need help. Please consider participating to keep Clara’s “chain of giving” going!
The Superior Give-A-Thon is a time of encouraging yearly gifts to Lake Superior State University from alumni, friends, faculty and staff. For 2021, our goal is to raise $15,000 combined for the Fund for LSSU, the Bud Mansfield Student Emergency Fund, and Laker Club from February 1 – May 1, 2021. All gifts received for Clara’s Challenge will be counted towards the Superior Give-a-thon goal.
