PHOTO CAPTIONS: (Above) The Ferris Foundation Board of Directors Chair John Hare presented
Ferris State University President David Eisler with a symbolic check for $1,834,903,
as part of the Ferris Futures Scholarship Challenge at The Ferris Foundation Benefit
on Friday, Nov. 4 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Below) Phil and Jocelyn Hagerman
are presented with The Ferris Foundation's Humanitarian Award at the event.
Click the link to video the highlight video from The Ferris Foundation for Excellence
Benefit.
More than 660 supporters attended The Ferris Foundation for Excellence Benefit, Friday, Nov. 4 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.
Organizers were thrilled by the record attendance figure for the 18th annual celebration, as well as an all-time total of 70 sponsors who offered varied levels of support for Exceptional Merit Grants awarded to Ferris faculty and staff, as well as the foundation’s Opportunity Scholarship program.
“We are extremely happy that new sponsors have joined with our long-established supporters, all of whom recognize the 25 years of impact The Ferris Foundation has had in advancing the mission of the university,” said Carla Miller, executive director of The Ferris Foundation. “Their collaborative efforts further the learning of our students and inspire achievement and successes across Ferris’ campus.”
Ferris’ President David Eisler presented the foundation’s Humanitarian 
Award to Phil and Jocelyn Hagerman, in recognition of their philanthropic efforts
to benefit the university’s College of Pharmacy, along with myriad contributions that
seek to brighten and improve the lives of future generations, in their hometown of
Flint, Mich. and beyond.
The Ferris Foundation Board of Directors Chair John Hare presented Eisler with a symbolic check for $1,834,903, as part of the Ferris Futures Scholarship Challenge, where these gifts expand endowed scholarships that have already been established.
Eisler and Hare were joined on stage by Ferris Board of Trustees chair Paul Boyer and Ferris Alumni Board President Amanda Turkopp to announce the launch of the university’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, “Now and Always: The Campaign for Ferris State University.” Stephanie Leonardos and Gary Granger will serve as chairs for the campaign, which will begin in the spring of 2017. The broad goals of “Now and Always” include support of student scholarships, support for academic and student efforts and support of efforts in Ferris’ many communities.
The evening concluded with remarks from the benefit’s featured speaker, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton and Eli followed their father into the sport, leading their teams to three Super Bowl championships. Archie mixed reflections on their careers and his experiences, while challenging the audience to continue their good works.
“Each one of you is supporting something needed in this world today, and that’s leadership,” Manning said. This year’s recipient of the National Football Foundation Gold Medal Award charged those at the benefit to “Think like a leader, set goals like a leader and act like a leader.”
Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman has been announced as featured speaker for The Ferris Foundation for Excellence’s 2017 celebration.