OSU Loyal Philanthropic Partner Award

 

 

Dorian Smith

Congratulations to Director of Student Success and Belonging Dorian Smith!

2024-25 Honoree

Dorian Smith pursues partnerships across the university to support Black, Native, and Indigenous students. He is also a leader in the university's top priority Finish in Four program, working with donors and campus partners to support the effort to provide scholarships and holistic support to Oregon resident students with financial need.

A critical partner for the OSU Foundation, Dorian played a role in the Believe It campaign kickoff celebration as one of the event’s keynote speakers, inspiring donors present to invest in OSU’s $1.75 billion-dollar fundraising campaign. He's also worked to foster donor relationships that resulted in a million-dollar endowment gift for the Educational Opportunities Program. And, by working as an ambassador and encouraging his network of alumni to give, he has helped raise over $10,000 for Black student access and success during Dam Proud Day each year.

Winners of the OSU Loyal Philanthropic Award receive $5,000 to designate to the fund/s of their choice at the OSU Foundation; Dorian selected:
  • Dreaming Beyond Borders Resource Center Program Fund (which creates a safe, supportive, welcoming and inclusive space for undocumented students and students from mixed status families)
  • Football Leadership Fund 
  • Black Student Access & Success Initiative Fund
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Past Award Recipients

 

President Emeritus Ed Ray, 2023-24

Throughout Ed Ray’s 17-year tenure as president – and the years since – he has been an extraordinary philanthropic leader. He has created multiple endowed scholarships and other funds benefiting students, particularly in the performing arts as well as the economics department, where he is on the faculty. He is especially well known for making challenge gifts that inspire other donors, and he also responds generously to other donors’ challenges.

“The source of my passion for philanthropy is no different than the passion that I know each of you have for teaching, learning, creative work, research and the absolute abiding understanding that our graduates are the most important contribution that we make to the future,” Ed said when he received the award. 

 

Karen Swanger, 2022-23

As the director of KidSpirit, Karen Swanger leads by example, embracing the philanthropic opportunities available to grow her program’s impact thoughtfully, both for now and the future. She embodies her strong conviction to inspire youth and staff to exemplify integrity, empathy, perseverance, and optimism. 

Karen is a steadfast donor and fundraiser, partnering in efforts to create at-once funding for the programs she serves. On top of that, while most units have utilized the OSU Foundation’s annual Dam Proud Day to raise funds for immediate use, Karen has taken a long view by focusing on growing an endowment to make KidSpirit more accessible to youth of all backgrounds, in perpetuity. She also has engaged with the Women’s Giving Circle – successfully applying for grants that helped KidSpirit launch the “Girls on the Run” program and created a “Positive Youth Development Coaching Certificate” for students interested in becoming youth coaches. 

 

Ilene Kleinsorge, 2021-22

Ilene Kleinsorge, dean emerita of the College of Business, was the inaugural recipient of the OSU Foundation’s OSU Loyal Philanthropic Partner Award. Throughout her career and beyond, Ilene has been an invaluable collaborator and constant champion for OSU, our students, and programs. She generously supports business students, the arts and other critical initiatives, and in retirement, she is an active volunteer leader in many local organizations.

“No one finds success without the help of others,” she said when she received the award. “I am motivated to give back where I have received benefit or where I think I can actually change lives… My community provides me a safe place to live, to learn, to play. Therefore, I’m motivated to give back.”