The students you support through the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation are changing the world! This is just one of their stories, that of a young United Methodist student at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Hannah Povroznik continues to make a difference, even during a pandemic, by living out a vision she had in high school.

In 2017, Hannah founded a food insecurity charity known as Boxing It Up to Give Thanks. This initiative set out to package boxed Thanksgiving meals for food pantries throughout North Central West Virginia. The vision was to eliminate food insecurity for one day, leaving more time for families to do what families do best – make memories!

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Boxing It Up persevered into its fourth year of service while expanding the original vision through a team of leaders from West Virginia Wesleyan College. In 2020, the charity raised $32,000 and fulfilled the need of all food pantries across counties in North Central West Virginia.

With a community voice and years of determination, this initiative has ultimately raised $90,000, distributed 61,000 pounds of food, and provided nearly 18,000 individual Thanksgiving meals in total. Equally important, Hannah’s example has instilled leadership into the minds of students and changed the face of food insecurity in West Virginia.

There are countless other stories about UMHEF scholars doing amazing things. When you donate to UMHEF, you help fund not only the education of students like Hannah but also their ideas and dreams that impact communities in enormous ways. Become a part of all the good students are doing by making a one-time or recurring gift to fund UMHEF scholarships. GIVE HERE.

Thank you for your support. We hope Hannah’s amazing work inspires you as much as she’s inspired us here at UMHEF.

Every year about this time, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation publishes an Annual Review. This exciting and important document celebrates all the ways the support of generous donors and partners have allowed the Foundation to live into its grand vision throughout the past year.

Last year was no exception. We invite you to view the following 2019 Annual Review and join us in giving thanks for all of the ways UMHEF has been able to make it economically possible for United Methodist students to attend UM-related schools. We celebrate YOU and your part in this exciting year.

TIP: Click “Full Screen” for optimum viewing/reading.

Every year, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation publishes an Annual Review celebrating the various ways we have lived into our vision thanks to the ongoing generous support of donors like you.

“In addition to scholarships, your gifts also allowed students to stay connected to the church during their education, minimize or eliminate educational debt, and study in faith-based communities as they discerned callings of service and leadership within The United Methodist Church.”

Bob Fletcher, UMHEF President/CEO

Click below to view the Annual Review for 2018, including complete remarks from UMHEF’s President/CEO, Bob Fletcher as well as scholarship reports, giving and distribution figures, introductions to new members of the UMHEF Board of Trustees, the chance to meet a few UMHEF scholars and how your support has changed their lives, and more.

This month, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation launched the Bishop Bruce and Char Ough Scholarship Endowment funds at two special events honoring the couple and their legacy of ministry and leadership within the United Methodist Church. Biship Bruce R. Ough is the resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church. The new scholarship endowment includes two funds, one for students at Dakota Wesleyan University and one for students at Hamiline University, to help those who are discerning a calling to or preparing for a career in ministry.

On May 15, United Methodists from North and South Dakota areas gathered to honor Bishop Bruce R. and Char Ough on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. This event was co-hosted by the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation,Dakotas Conference, and Dakota Wesleyan University. (Read more about this event.) A second event was held on May 21 on the campus of Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota and co-hosted by the Minnesota United Methodist Foundation, the Minnesota Annual Conference, and Hamline University. (Read moreabout this event.) At both events, distinguished colleagues, UM leaders, and alumni offered gracious words in celebration of the Oughs.

“I am a product of a mentoring culture. I was not born a leader. I was raised to be a leader by others who very intentionally invested in me.” Bishop Ough shared these words about raising up the next generation of United Methodist leaders, inviting those at each event to lend their support to the efforts of the new endowment. “This scholarship is not meant to be about me. It is about the next generation that we are to call forth and mentor. I believe that preparing the next generation of spiritual leaders is every leader’s responsibility and ultimately, the legacy I want to leave.” 

Give to the Bishop Bruce and Char Ough Scholarship Endowment for Dakota Wesleyan University here.

Give to the Bishop Bruce and Char Ough Scholarship Endowment for Hamline University.

For questions about your gift to this fund or other UMHEF efforts, please contact UMHEF Development Officer, Cindy Patterson, at 615-649-3970 or [email protected].

Photos courtesy of Dakotas UMC

Lent is an important time in the Christian year when we can prepare our hearts and spirits for Jesus. The forty days of Lent, not counting Sundays, last from Ash Wednesday through Easter Saturday. The time period represents the forty days Jesus suffered in the wilderness, enduring the temptations of Satan by remaining close to God through fasting and prayer. The unimaginable time of Jesus’ trials and suffering is what prepared Him to carry out His ministry.

As Christians, we can dedicate the Lenten season to God and ask God to prepare our own hearts and minds for the ministry God has entrusted to us. Whether God is calling you to a time of repentance, fasting, prayer, or servanthood, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) has created a Lenten calendar to help you center your heart and mind on God each day and become new in Christ.

You may download the calendar below and print it for use at home, work, or school. Feel free to make copies and share with family, friends, your fellow church members, etc. Make this tool be a blessing to you and help you grow in your faith.

The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation has just created new $5,000 named endowed scholarships specifically to support students attending United Methodist-related Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Apply today using the General Named Endowed Scholarship application by the March 1 deadline. You must complete the application in full and send in all required documentation, postmarked by the deadline.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

• Must be attending one of the UM-related HBCU schools listed below
• Must be a member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year
• Must be in good standing with the college/university
• GPA of at least a 2.5

United Methodist-Related Historically Black Colleges and Universities include:

Bennett College
Bethune-Cookman University
Claflin University
Clark Atlanta University
Dillard University
Gammon Theological Seminary
Huston-Tillotson University
Paine College
Philander Smith College
Rust College
Wiley College