Giving in Action

Where Boulder meets CU: A legacy of connection inspires new $5M civic impact initiative

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 07 May 2026 13:21:07 +0000

Where Boulder meets CU: A legacy of connection inspires new $5M civic impact initiative Megan M Rogers Thu, 05/07/2026 - 07:21

For alum Heidi Wagner, Boulder has never been just a place on a map. It represents part of her family’s history and a lifelong connection to CU Boulder—one that began generations ago.

In the 1950s, Wagner's great-grandmother served as house mother for the Sigma Nu fraternity on campus, and her great-grandfather hauled red stone to Boulder to help build the university’s iconic campus. Years later, her father, Clay, studied geology, chemistry and math at CU Boulder; her mother, Ann, was raised by local ranchers and eventually brought up three young children in CU’s student family housing.

Wagner herself graduated from CU Boulder’s journalism program in 1986. Though her career took her beyond Boulder, her connection to the city and university never faded. Now, that lifelong bond is coming full circle through a new initiative that will bring the university and city even closer together.

The Wagner Family Civic Impact Initiative is a new program designed to bridge campus and community through student-led engagement and problem-solving. Supported by a $5 million endowment gift from Wagner, the initiative embodies a simple but powerful idea: The challenges facing the city of Boulder don’t stop at the edge of campus, and neither should the solutions.

“I am beyond excited to launch the Wagner Family Civic Impact Initiative at a time when engagement, collaboration and action are sorely needed at all levels of government and community,” said Wagner. “By working directly with the city of Boulder as well as local businesses and nonprofits, students will be given practical experience as well as an appreciation for complex, real-time problem-solving that benefits the Boulder community.”

At table, left to right: Vice �Թ�� for Advancement Katy Herbert Kotlarczyk; �Թ�� Justin Schwartz; donor Heidi Wagner; CU Foundation President and CEO Jack Finlaw. At back, left to right: Members of Heidi Wagner’s family attend the signing ceremony—Mary Ann Wagner Keatley, Ann Wagner, Riley Hayduk.

Connecting campus and community

Hosted within CU Boulder’s Center for Leadership, this initiative will immerse students in real-world projects alongside local partners, giving them the opportunity to work directly on challenges and opportunities facing the Boulder community, including issues such as sustainability, mental health or workforce development.

“CU Boulder and the city of Boulder are deeply interconnected, and our successes and challenges are shared,” said �Թ�� Justin Schwartz. “This initiative is about strengthening that town-gown connection in meaningful ways, giving students the opportunity to contribute to the community that surrounds them while learning what it means to lead with purpose and responsibility.”

Each cohort of Wagner Family Civic Impact Scholars will form small, interdisciplinary teams and partner with local nonprofits, businesses and government agencies to identify challenges and co-create innovative solutions. In the process, students will gain hands-on experience while contributing tangible benefits to the community they call home.

At a time when relationships between universities and their surrounding communities are more important than ever, CU Boulder is taking an approach rooted in collaboration.

“As CU celebrates its 150th anniversary, we’re reflecting on how Boulder community members came together to help fund the beginning of the university,” said Lori Call, associate vice chancellor for local government and community engagement.

“Boulder is home to so many of our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and this is a wonderful opportunity to engage students more deeply in this community—working alongside leaders who can help them understand the issues and challenges, and helping to identify opportunities and solutions.”

Civic learning in action

In addition to the tangible benefits for the Boulder community, students will gain meaningful experience themselves.

“This initiative brings learning to life in a way that simply isn’t possible within the walls of a classroom,” said �Թ�� Emeritus Philip DiStefano, senior executive director of the Center for Leadership. “It will help students develop not only critical skills but a stronger sense of responsibility, collaboration and connection. By partnering with the city of Boulder more intentionally, we’re creating a shared pathway for innovation, impact and long-term community benefit.”

In addition to project-based work, scholars will receive scholarships and mentorship support as part of the program. The first cohort is expected to begin in fall 2026.

“Building on the Center for Leadership’s strong foundation of investing in student leader development, this initiative will create new pathways for students to practice leadership in real-world contexts,” said Stefanie Johnson, director of the Center for Leadership. “By working alongside community partners to address complex challenges, students will deepen their capacity to lead with empathy, collaboration and purpose, preparing them to make a meaningful impact long after they leave CU Boulder.”

A Boulder legacy

For Wagner, the new initiative is about carrying her family’s legacy forward.

From mining, ranching and farming in the area to raising children in CU housing, the Wagner family’s lives have been intertwined with the university and the city in ways that reflect their values of connection, respect and belonging. Now, those experiences continue to influence how Heidi thinks about giving back.

“Growing up in Boulder, I never distinguished the city from the university, so it made perfect sense to design and endow a program that focuses on their shared interests,” said Wagner. “My own career in advocacy at the federal level has only impressed upon me the need for civic engagement to start early and start local.”

Over the decades, several other members of the Wagner family have attended CU Boulder and other Colorado institutions, pursuing careers in healthcare, public service and higher education. Wagner herself recently retired after a successful career in healthcare legislative and regulatory policy and law in Washington, D.C., and credits CU Boulder with helping to fuel her momentum.

Through every chapter and generation, the Wagner family embodies the spirit of Boulder: open-minded, welcoming and deeply committed to education and community. Now, Wagner is channeling that history into an investment in the next generation.

“By sending me to Washington for an internship on Capitol Hill, CU changed the trajectory of my life, both professionally and personally,” said Wagner. “My great hope is to do the same for CU students participating in this initiative by facilitating and prioritizing engagement, collaboration and action.”

The Wagner Family Civic Impact Initiative reflects CU Boulder’s and Wagner's shared belief that the campus and the city are strongest when they work together. In this way, this new effort is not only a continuation of their family legacy but an expansion of it—one that invites students to become part of Boulder’s story and help shape its future.

Donor and alum Heidi Wagner with her family. Back row (left to right): Riley Hayduk, Heidi Wagner, Amy Wagner Eichelberger. Front row (left to right): Kimberly Wagner Doody, Mary Ann Wagner Keatley, Clay Wagner, Ann Wagner. Photo edited to include all family members.

CU Boulder has received a $5 million endowment gift from alum Heidi Wagner to launch the Wagner Family Civic Impact Initiative. The new program will connect students with Boulder-area partners to address community challenges through student-led engagement and problem-solving.

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Here's what CU Boulder students say about philanthropy at CU Boulder

Megan M Rogers — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:01:12 +0000

Here's what CU Boulder students say about philanthropy at CU Boulder Megan M Rogers Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:01

March is Buffs All In, when CU Boulder celebrates the impact of collective giving. Read stories from student leaders—some involved in the CU Special Olympics, others in Letters of Love at CU and more.

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WHOLE Student-Athlete program elevates Buffs on and off the field

Elizabeth Lock — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:47:17 +0000

WHOLE Student-Athlete program elevates Buffs on and off the field Elizabeth Lock Wed, 02/18/2026 - 09:47

Powered by philanthropy, CU Boulder's Crawford Family WHOLE Student-Athlete Program delivers comprehensive support for student-athletes' wellness, academics, leadership and career readiness, setting a national standard for holistic care in college athletics.

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Meadowlark Optics invests in CU Boulder's quantum scholars

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:42:22 +0000

Meadowlark Optics invests in CU Boulder's quantum scholars Megan M Rogers Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:42

College of Arts and Sciences

Local company Meadowlark Optics, founded by alum Tom Baur, is generously supporting $70,000 in new scholarships for CU Boulder undergraduates exploring the quantum field.

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When staff and philanthropy unite: A path to empower future engineers

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:38:26 +0000

When staff and philanthropy unite: A path to empower future engineers Megan M Rogers Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:38

At the Campos Student Center, dedicated staff and visionary donors are transforming students' lives, proving that compassionate leadership and philanthropy can open doors to possibility, purpose and belonging.

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Buckley Center renamed SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education

Megan M Rogers — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:24:00 +0000

Buckley Center renamed SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education Megan M Rogers Wed, 01/21/2026 - 11:24

Left to right: Vice �Թ�� for Sustainability Andrew Mayock, alumnus and donor Spike Buckley, and �Թ�� Justin Schwartz at the signing ceremony.

The Buckley Center for Sustainability Education at CU Boulder, launched last summer with a transformative $10 million gift from alumnus Spike Buckley, has been renamed the SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education to reflect dynamism and its growing role as a hub for sustainability learning and leadership on campus and beyond.

Established with a $10 million, venture-style investment to accelerate sustainability education at CU Boulder, the center was created to integrate sustainability concepts across courses and disciplines; support faculty innovation in sustainability teaching; and empower students with experiential learning, civic engagement and leadership opportunities. The center serves as an accelerator to expand sustainability curriculum, advance faculty impact and prepare students to address the urgent environmental challenges of our time.

“This support has allowed us to build a dynamic, collaborative space that will help students and faculty bring sustainability into every corner of campus,” said Andrew Mayock, vice chancellor for sustainability at CU Boulder. “Renaming the center honors the vision and continued commitment of John ‘Spike’ Buckley as this work continues to grow.”

With the new name in place, the center is also unveiling updates to its suite of programs, which will now be branded under the SPIKE umbrella to strengthen identity and coherence across initiatives. These include:

SPIKE Faculty Fellows
SPIKE Curriculum Ambassadors
SPIKE Faculty Affiliates
SPIKE Student Emissaries
SPIKE Student Scholars

“Our SPIKE programs are designed to empower learners at every level, from first-year students to advanced scholars, to bring sustainability into their work, communities and careers,” said Max Boykoff, faculty executive director of the SPIKE Center. “By connecting teaching, curriculum and experiential learning through the SPIKE Center to partners in research and practice, we are helping CU Boulder not just respond to the climate crisis, but to transform how education equips people to shape a more just and resilient future.”

The renaming coincides with a phase of strategic expansion for the center as it deepens partnerships across campus units and with community, state, national and international collaborators. The SPIKE Center continues to advance CU Boulder’s leadership in sustainability education by supporting course development, teaching collaborations, and new tools and modules that help integrate sustainability into curricula across academic programs.

CU Boulder’s ongoing focus on sustainability education builds on a strong institutional legacy of environmental leadership, from early achievements like launching the nation’s first campus recycling program, to maintaining a STARS Gold rating for sustainability excellence.

Looking ahead, the Office of the Vice �Թ�� for Sustainability and the SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education invite faculty, students, staff and community partners to engage in shaping the next phase of sustainability education, helping to educate the climate leaders of the future and advance solutions for a thriving, equitable and sustainable world.

Get more details on programs and opportunities to get involved.

The Buckley Center for Sustainability Education has been renamed the SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education to reflect dynamism and its growing role as a hub for sustainability learning and leadership on campus and beyond. The center launched last summer with a transformative $10 million gift from alumnus Spike Buckley,

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Reisher Scholars Program launches at CU Boulder with $4.2M in scholarships

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:43:07 +0000

Reisher Scholars Program launches at CU Boulder with $4.2M in scholarships Megan M Rogers Mon, 01/12/2026 - 09:43

Beginning this year, the �Թ�� of Colorado Boulder will become the 10th institution in the state to offer the prestigious Reisher Scholars Program through The Denver Foundation. With this milestone, CU Boulder joins one of the largest scholarship programs in Colorado, serving a projected 914 students statewide by the fall of 2026.

CU Boulder will offer $4.2 million in scholarships through a new partnership with The Denver Foundation and the Reisher Family Foundation. This transformative program at CU Boulder will connect transfer and continuing students to scholarships and wellness resources to help them complete their degrees.

“We are deeply grateful for the Reisher Scholars Program and its generous support,” said �Թ�� Justin Schwartz. “This investment directly addresses students’ real challenges to help them stay on track, graduate and thrive. At CU Boulder, we believe that access to education should lead to degree completion. The Reisher Scholars Program strengthens our commitment to student success and ensures that more Buffs can finish college ready to achieve their next steps.”

Expanding access to education

Many scholarships help students gain access to college through funding during their first year. While vital, students also need ongoing support throughout their educational experience. The Reisher Scholars Program specifically targets students after their first year by offering financial support for students to complete their undergraduate degrees.

The program focuses on highly motivated students with financial need who are likely to contribute positively to society as demonstrated by their community service, leadership activities, work experiences and other distinctive accomplishments.

Colorado residents who attend or plan to attend CU Boulder may apply for the program as a rising sophomore or transfer student from a community college. Each selected student may qualify for up to $22,000 per year to cover their cost of attendance. Recipients can also access free mental health support through Talkspace, an online therapy provider.

“Receiving this scholarship will be truly transformational. It will allow some of our hardest-working students to complete their degrees when financial barriers might otherwise have forced them to step away,” said Jennifer Fisher, director of the Office of Scholarship Services. “The Reisher Scholarship provides more than just financial support. It fosters a community of driven individuals dedicated to building a better future for themselves and their communities, both during their time in school and as engaged alumni.”

A legacy of generosity

Roger and Margaret Reisher started the Reisher Scholars program in 2001 because they credited their education for their success and wanted to expand that opportunity to others. Roger graduated from CU Boulder with an accounting degree in 1950, and Roger and Margaret Reisher were the first in their families to earn college degrees. The Reisher Scholars Program at The Denver Foundation is now one of the largest scholarship programs in Colorado. In 2025-2026, the Reisher Scholars Program is on track to give nearly $10 million in scholarships to 712 undergraduate students.

The Reisher family established the program at The Denver Foundation in 2001. This year marks The Denver Foundation’s 100th anniversary, with Nov. 30, 2025, recently named “The Denver Foundation Centennial Celebration Day.” Adding CU Boulder as a partner university of the Reisher Scholars Program demonstrates the Reisher family’s and The Denver Foundation’s longstanding commitment to higher education.

“With the addition of CU Boulder to the Reisher Scholars Program as our 10th partner institution, we are continuing to expand our reach to Colorado students and help them complete their degree,” said Sharon Harper, senior director of scholarships for The Denver Foundation. “Our hope is that more Colorado students see themselves as belonging in the higher education landscape, and this partnership with CU Boulder allows the Reisher Scholars Program to reach even more students engaged in a wide variety of educational pursuits, while making college accessible and achievable for Colorado learners.”

Building the first cohort of CU Boulder Reisher Scholars

The program will launch at CU Boulder this fall with 40 students in the first cohort, with a plan to grow to 80 students in the second year and 100 in the third. Starting in the fourth year, the Reisher Scholars Program will provide $1.8 million in annual contributions to sustain the program.

To be considered for the scholarship, interested students can apply by March 15 for rising sophomores and June 15 for transfer students.

Through initiatives like the Reisher Scholars Program, scholarship support makes a college education accessible to high-achieving students with financial need — helping Colorado’s best and brightest students reach their full potential.

Read more CU Boulder impact stories.

CU Boulder will become the 10th institution in the state to offer the prestigious Reisher Scholars Program through The Denver Foundation, funded with a $4.2 million commitment to connect transfer and continuing students to scholarships.

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From stages to stars: Generosity connects community to culture at CU Boulder

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:29:16 +0000

From stages to stars: Generosity connects community to culture at CU Boulder Megan M Rogers Mon, 12/22/2025 - 07:29

CU Boulder's cultural programs, like CU Presents, the Art Museum and Fiske Planetarium, connect campus and community through art, science and wonder. See how philanthropy powers these experiences and why your support matters.

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Colorado Combined Campaign: Your chance to give back

Elizabeth Lock — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:36:28 +0000

Colorado Combined Campaign: Your chance to give back Elizabeth Lock Mon, 11/10/2025 - 10:36

Open through Dec. 12, Coloradans can support hundreds of vetted charities through the Colorado Combined Campaign, securely giving to causes that feed families, protect natural resources, uplift communities and more.

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Private philanthropy spurs sustainability initiatives at CU Boulder

Elizabeth Lock — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:48:08 +0000

Private philanthropy spurs sustainability initiatives at CU Boulder Elizabeth Lock Wed, 10/08/2025 - 06:48

CU Boulder's momentum in sustainability continues to build with its third significant gift in this area within the past few months.

CU Boulder recently received a generous $1.15 million commitment from the Walton Family Foundation to support two sustainability initiatives: The Water Desk within the Center for Environmental Journalism and the Western Water Policy Program in the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources.

This award—along with a gift from alum Spike Buckley to establish the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education and a donation of the 476-acre Spruce Gulch Wildlife and Research Reserve from alum Linda Holubar Sanabria—demonstrates the power of donor support to drive sustainability initiatives at the university.

"Sustainability is a core priority of CU Boulder because we want to help every community enjoy access to clean air, fresh water, abundant food and a vibrant natural environment," said CU Boulder Vice �Թ�� for Sustainability Andrew Mayock. "We are grateful for partners like the Walton Family Foundation who help us make progress toward that vision through innovative programs like The Water Desk and the Western Water Policy Program. Journalistic coverage of water issues and sound policy development are absolutely vital to our understanding of water issues in the West and preservation of critical resources like the Colorado River.”

Advancing Western water policy

The Walton Family Foundation's commitment will support programs that directly address Western water issues, specifically in those affecting the Colorado River Basin.

A portion of the award will bolster impactful journalism at The Water Desk—a program within the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information. The Water Desk is editorially independent and connects journalists with resources to help them understand and cover issues related to water policy in the West. In doing so, it informs the public and policymakers with fact-based reporting.

Luke Runyon, co-director of The Water Desk, said this grant comes at a critical time for both journalism and water in the West.

"The news industry is facing budget shortfalls and staff cutbacks, while climate change continues to upend how the water cycle functions in our region," Runyon said. "In-depth, high-impact reporting on the Colorado River Basin is more important than ever. The Walton Family Foundation's generous, continued support of The Water Desk gives us the ability to grow a network of media outlets that provides coverage across the West.

"This philanthropic funding for water journalism is essential for informing citizens and decision-makers about problems and potential solutions."

The support will also help the Western Water Policy Program in the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and Environment within Colorado Law, and shape the policy and leadership of new river operating rules. The funding will support the center's annual conference, revitalize the Colorado River Research Group and mentor future water leaders in water law and policy.

"Communities need trusted, fact-based journalism and ideas to help make decisions about how to protect water, nature and the people who rely on them," said Ted Kowalski, Colorado Initiative lead for the Walton Family Foundation's Environment Program. "This support for The Water Desk and the Western Water Policy Program will connect local ideas to local leaders."

Leading in sustainability-based programs

Today's students seek opportunities to incorporate sustainability and environmental leadership into their education. Programs supporting water policy align with these student goals and position CU Boulder as a leader in sustainability-based education and research.

Continued donor support helps the university attract top students, support their educational progress, expand their educational experiences on campus and set them up for success after graduation. And sustainability touches more than scientific academic areas: Recent support through private philanthropy demonstrates how disciplines across campus can incorporate programs and initiatives that address society's greatest environmental challenges, empowering the next generation of policymakers, journalists, researchers and innovators to lead in this space.

Giving in Action

Where Boulder meets CU: A legacy of connection inspires new $5M civic impact initiative

Connecting campus and community

Civic learning in action

A Boulder legacy

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