New Gifts Announced at Arizona Assurance Program Celebration
The University of Arizona Foundation recently hosted a celebration of the Arizona Assurance Program, or AZA, and Edie Auslander. AZA provides significant financial support, as well as retention and support services such as mentoring, to Arizona students who have the ability to succeed at the UA but lack the financial means.
Auslander headed fundraising for AZA from the program’s inception until her retirement at the end of 2018. During her tenure, more than 6,000 students enrolled with the help of this comprehensive support program.
"It's been thrilling to see the generosity of donors. It's like nothing else, and I’ve been so grateful to be a part of it," she said.
Auslander is well-known as a champion of higher education across the state. She became an assistant professor of journalism at the UA after working in the field. She later worked in UA administration and served as president of the Arizona Board of Regents. She has been included three times in Hispanic Business magazine’s list of the 100 most influential U.S. Hispanics.
Two gifts to AZA were announced at the event. The Marshall Foundation made a $500,000 contribution, half of which will create a new Arizona Assurance scholarship in Auslander’s name. A $185,000 gift from UA Foundation board member Linda Robin and her husband Kenneth Robin, also made in Auslander’s honor, was announced at the event as well.
Rachel Rivera has taken over Auslander’s duties as the primary fundraiser for AZA.
About the University of Arizona Foundation
The University of Arizona Foundation, founded in 1958, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the University of Arizona through philanthropy. Since its inception, the foundation has helped generate more than $3 billion in private funding to support and elevate the university’s global leadership position in experiential and interdisciplinary education, research and entrepreneurial partnerships. University of Arizona-based fundraising teams in many colleges and units rely on University of Arizona Foundation services and support to achieve their objectives.