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Foundation President's Message
The Northwest Foundation and the University are really no different than you and I personally, our businesses or our society. We struggle in some areas, we enjoy success in others. Regardless of whether we are flourishing or just coping, we have seen some less than encouraging trends in our economy, including the state of Missouri's funding for higher education. There are bright spots, however.
These bright spots are our relationships - friends, family and others with whom we associate. Those who we are shoulder to shoulder with, who give us hope and help us along the way. We are all interdependent on one another for business and for a myriad of other integral parts of our society. Education provides the life blood for the economies of cities, states and nations - which when boiled down is "us." Higher education is the key to success in nearly every area of life and in society's overall progression.
Colleges and universities are going to have to be less dependent on state and public funding in the future, and while the burden of cost logically falls to the student, it may not be the best for "us" as a whole. If education becomes so expensive that it is not reasonably available to our representative population, our society will suffer. The alternative then is private sources of funding. While there is a disconnect between the source of the funds and any direct return on the investment, there will be a much larger return to society.
My goal as a member of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors and as a Northwest alumnus is to promote and represent the University in everything I do. I want to ensure that the Foundation is doing the best job it can by being fiscally responsible and working together with University groups, alumni, faculty and staff.
We must each do our individual part in giving back to what education continues to give to us. We need to be aware of the valuable role higher education plays in our overall success and just how important Northwest is to the economic health of our cities, states and nation.
Please join me in the promotion of a greater Northwest for all of us!
Dan Runde '81
President, Northwest Foundation
