The Next Generation of Donors
12/14/2023 11:00:00 AM | Panther Club
In the world of philanthropy, millennials and Gen Z-ers are commonly referred to as "next-gen" donors, the up-and-coming generations getting involved in giving.
When the University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics launched The Script Society in 2020, a core group of generous and dedicated philanthropic donors began to form. Three years later, an unexpected trend has emerged: The group has continued to expand in numbers while the average age of its members has steadily gone down.
Adam and Ashley Dulak joined The Script Society this year, becoming the youngest members of the group. Both proud Pitt alums, Ashley chose the University for its pharmacy program and her desire to attend a university with a strong athletic reputation to enhance her college experience. Adam and Ashley met their first day at Pitt and have been inseparable ever since, making the University a special place for them.
The two stayed connected to the University of Pittsburgh after graduation. Despite leaving Pittsburgh after completing their undergraduate degrees, the two knew they eventually wanted to return to the city. Ashley is now an assistant professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, teaching pharmacology to physician assistant and physical therapy students, and Adam works as a physician assistant for UPMC.
"I know our gift is not what every donor is able to give, but I hope that every donor is able to look at the longevity of what they give to realize that giving, even in small amounts, every year still provides a great foundation."
Because athletics were such a prominent part of their collegiate experience, the two knew that when they returned to Pittsburgh, they would pick up where they left off, attending every home football and men's basketball game possible. They became season ticket holders in both sports, giving philanthropically when and where they could.
As Adam and Ashley have progressed in their careers, they have expanded their involvement, becoming more philanthropically involved with Pitt Athletics. As a faculty member, Ashley acknowledges the importance of seeing student-athletes as students first and wanted to find ways to support their education. Like many people, Adam and Ashley graduated with student loan debt and understood how valuable scholarship assistance would be to student-athletes. This understanding is what prompted the couple to join The Script Society, choosing to designate part of their gift to the Student-Athlete Success Fund. They wanted to support student-athletes in the classroom across all sports, majors and future career paths.
Ashley sums up the hope for the next generation of donors best: "I know our gift is not what every donor is able to give, but I hope that every donor is able to look at the longevity of what they give to realize that giving, even in small amounts, every year still provides a great foundation. You don't have to wait until you are established in your life and give a large amount. Even giving small amounts collectively can really help to propel individual teams and the department forward."
