Giving Now and In the Future

Ann Gunderson Thornburg, a 1971 UW-Eau Claire accounting graduate, will use her annual gifts and a bequest from her estate to fund the Thomas and Mavis Gunderson Scholarship. She decided to support the Blugold Promise Scholarship Program because it provides need-based scholarships to high-achieving UW-Eau Claire freshmen who, provided they do well, receive a second larger award their sophomore year. The scholarship will help highly motivated students whose financial need could interfere with attending and then remaining in school.

"I am particularly interested in providing scholarships to students who are the first in their families to attend college and have limited finances," Thornburg said. "That was my own experience and I know how difficult it can be for these students to consider attending college if financial resources are not available. I hope these scholarships will be the incentive needed to help these students and their families see that college is indeed possible."

Education was a priority for Thornburg's parents who relocated to Eau Claire so that Thornburg and her siblings could attend UW-Eau Claire. Thornburg, who received a scholarship through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, graduated from UW-Eau Claire and went on to great success at PricewaterhouseCoopers, becoming the first female partner in Boston, the firm's second largest office, and the first woman elected to the firm's Board of Partners and Principals. Thornburg's pledge will include a substantial annual gift that will establish the fund and provide generous annual scholarships. A significant commitment through her estate will complete the permanent endowment of the fund.