Gifts and Gratitude
Drew Pang ’15 shocked with surprise of donating 200 millionth dollar
Five years of fundraising achieved a major result this fall on campus, as the Connect Today, Create Tomorrow campaign surpassed the $200 million mark.
The comprehensive campaign, the largest in the University’s history, allows OWU to chart a bold path forward with everything from building and renovating campus facilities to supporting scholarships and financial aid to creating transformation experiences for students through The OWU Connection.
Although the campaign still has another two years until completion, reaching $200 million — the campaign’s original goal — was time for pause and celebration. Fittingly, this happened when Bishops, past and present, were already celebrating their love for OWU during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
As alumni and donors scattered across campus at different events, the Ohio Wesleyan University Advancement team pinpointed the donor who tipped the fundraising efforts over that $200 million mark.
Drew Pang ’15 from Dublin, Ohio, was back in Delaware connecting with friends at the Young Alumni Brunch, with no idea of the impact he had made.
Amid the light conversation and laughter at the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center, Katie Webster, OWU’s director of alumni engagement, snuck up the stairs and around the corner with the Bishop and a sign that read, “Thank you, Drew.”
Webster tapped Pang on the shoulder, got everyone’s attention and explained that he had pushed the campaign over the top. Cheers and “Drew” chants erupted. Pang was caught off guard as the center of attention, but he was grateful for the recognition.
“Just shocked that the small donation that I made happened to be the 200 millionth dollar,” he says.
Pang was given a bagful of Ohio Wesleyan apparel, along with balloons and plenty of high fives from the Bishop.
The former OWU men’s soccer player says he still feels very much connected to OWU, “being a part of the small community and knowing that your professors and students will always help you even after you graduate. You stay in touch with professors and friends and the people you met in Delaware.”
Pang says he’s proud to even be a small part of the legacy of this campaign, which has already made changes on campus that are obvious for alumni who return for a visit.
“I’m sure when I was at school there were a bunch of donors who contributed to help make Ohio Wesleyan the way it was, so I am just glad to be a part of the future,” Pang says.
By Allie Hausfeld