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 Nicholejelinek@creighton.edu.
Forward Blue Campaign Report
See our annual Forward Blue report, which shows many of the most impactful ways donors, alumni and friends are making a difference at Creighton University.
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Here are a few more donors and alumni who have made a difference at Creighton ...
Through estate gifts, Michael Cullen, MD ’79, and other Creighton Heritage Society members make a commitment that will benefit future generations of students. Read more about Dr. Cullen
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Marty and Barbara Perry regularly make gifts to Creighton’s Computer Science, Design and Journalism department in honor of their son, Zach Perry, BA’10, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 31. In 2023, the Perrys worked with Carol Zuegner, PhD — Joella Cohen Endowed Chair, associate professor of journalism and the Creightonian advisor — to designate their gift specifically to the paper’s travel budget. Because of their gift, the Creightonian could send student reporters and photographers to cover the men's basketball team's historic NCAA Tournament run. Read more about the Perrys
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All of his life, the late Father Val J. Peter, JCD, STD, Hon’92, pursued the will of God for the betterment of all. Through a memorial gift of scholarship, Father Peter continues to leave his mark on the world. Read more about Fr. Peter
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To help make the Creighton nursing experience possible for passionate students in need, Glenda Gill Chang, BSN’74, established the Chang Nursing Endowed Scholarship. Read more about Chang
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“I literally fell out of my chair.”That’s the reaction that Creighton graduate and former faculty-staff, Mike Miller, BSEMS’07, MS’10, EDD’14, says he had when he learned about a gift made to Creighton University in his honor. Read more about the gift
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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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John Daly, PhB’38, JD’40, was devoted to Catholic education, to daily Mass and to the welfare of everyone around him. His legacy will live on through the John F. and Anne Hanighen Daly Scholarships benefiting School of Law and College of Arts and Sciences students. Read more about Daly
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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
