By Chris Muller

The NIRSA Foundation provides educational and scholarly opportunities for individuals in collegiate recreation.

As we make the turn into the new year, join in the spirit of the season and give the gift of education and professional development!

Year-end gifts help uphold the NIRSA Foundation’s ongoing commitment of “Supporting Today. Ensuring Tomorrow.” Tax deductible donations can be made to the general fund, which helps support NIRSA research grants and scholarships to the Annual Conference, or to a variety of specific endowments. New this year, the Foundation Board is allocating a portion of the general fund to support NIRSA research grants that align with NIRSA’s research priorities. The first project, which began this fall, is analyzing the benefits of campus recreational sports participation. With your support, we look forward to funding additional research projects to advance our knowledge within the profession.

The meaningful opportunities scholarships provide to deserving NIRSA students and professionals are as dynamic as the personalities of our recipients. Our “Where are they now” article series highlights the ongoing impact NIRSA Foundation scholarships have on our members, as well as the impact those members continue to have on our Association and the communities they serve. Want to know more? Check out our recent highlighted recipients Caroline Dotts and Beththena Johnson.

Foundation scholarship winner, Caroline Dotts, and Foundation Board member, Suzi Smith, supporting the NIRSA Foundation during the “Put 100 on NIRSA” campaign at the Foundation booth at the NIRSA 2013 Annual Conference.

An end-of-the-year contribution to the NIRSA Foundation may easily be made through the NIRSA website. All gifts to the NIRSA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, qualify as tax deductible and NIRSA Foundation contributors are celebrated on the online Honor Roll. Additionally, donors advance in “Levels of Giving” with each contribution. Other opportunities include becoming a member of the Legacy Society, visit the NIRSA website for more information.

Thank you for your continuing support of the NIRSA Foundation. Enjoy the holiday season, and best wishes for an outstanding New Year!