At Creighton, you don’t have to look far to see the impact of our donors.
From the thousands of student experiences funded by collective donor support to major endeavors like the Heider College of Business — named after Creighton alumnus Charles “Charlie” Heider, BSC’49, HON’10, and his wife, Mary — gifts of all sizes make the Creighton experience possible.
Donor stories
Share your story. Have you or someone you know made a difference through a gift to Creighton? Are you a student or alumnus who’s benefited from another’s generosity? We'd love to hear your story. Contact micahmertes@creighton.edu.
Donor Impact magazine
Creighton's generous donors empower our students through academic excellence, unwavering faith and service to others. In this year’s donor magazine, you will find inspirational stories of philanthropy and of the transformational power of higher education. Read the magazine here.
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Here are a few more donors and alumni who have made a difference at Creighton ...
Creighton alumna Pamela L. Turner, MS'99, was a selfless and loving woman who improved the lives of everyone she touched. When she passed away in 2012 after a courageous 10-year battle with cancer, Pamela's husband, Paul D. Turner, MS'86, established the Pamela L. Turner Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports students enrolled in the College of Nursing. The scholarship in Pamela's name continues her legacy of kindness, care and service.
Read more about the scholarship
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Creighton University named its highway-spanning pedestrian bridge after two brothers who helped transform the University and the city of Omaha. The bridge was dedicated to Robert P. "Bob" Heaney, BS'47, MD'51, who passed away in 2016; and his brother C.E. "Carr" Heaney Jr., BS'50, JD'57, after the Heritage Services' board of directors, along with the Sunderland Foundation and friends, made a significant gift in their name.
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In the spring of 2020, more than 900 alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students raised more than $440,000 for the University’s inaugural A Day for Jays. The funds are supporting scholarships and emergency assistance for students facing financial hardships amidst COVID-19. Read more about A Day for Jays.
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Creighton dentist Arne Ness, DDS’77, and his partner, Anne Christensen, funded the atrium and grand staircase in the new School of Dentistry building, also making the lead gift to the dental school’s digital technology center. Read more about Dr. Ness.
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Dentist Kay O’Leary, DDS’88, funded an operatory in the School of Dentistry. Giving back is one of the ways she keeps her ties to Creighton strong, she says, “because when you find a place that has so much to give, you do what you can to keep it working. Creighton has given me so much, many great experiences.” Read more about Dr. O'Leary.
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Iowa pharmacist Bob Greenwood, BSPHA’77, and Cheryl “Chery” Greenwood, made a significant gift to the Creighton School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, and the University has renamed the newly renovated pharmacy skills lab in their family’s honor. “Creighton will always be a special place for our family,” Chery says. “We’ve been very blessed, and Creighton is a big part of our success.” Read more about the Greenwoods.
Richard L. Deming
Being a doctor is about more than science; it’s a human endeavor. Created by a gift from Dr. Richard Deming, an Iowa oncologist and 1980 graduate of the Creighton School of Medicine, the Richard L. Deming, MD, Endowed Chair in Medical Humanities will support faculty as they form well-rounded and empathetic physicians through an education rooted in the liberal arts and a mission driven by Jesuit values.
“An endowed chair is a tremendous gift to a university. This chair reflects the experience and passion of its benefactor, who understands the value of connecting with patients on a meaningful level.” — Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD
Giving Societies
We’re so grateful to those who support our mission. To show our appreciation, we honor our donors through various giving societies.
Creighton University giving societies
Heritage Society members
Creighton Society members
Ignatian Merit Scholars
The Ignatian Merit Scholars program is one powerful way we open the door to high-achieving undergraduate students, especially those from diverse backgrounds and low- and middle-income families. These students typically have achieved a GPA of 3.8 or above, an ACT score of 30 or above and an SAT score of 1360 or above.
Learn more about the program
