University of Minnesota Giving

What if surgeons could step inside a child’s heart before surgery begins? ❤️

At the University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. Shanti Narasimhan is using virtual reality to help plan complex pediatric heart surgeries. By transforming CT scans into immersive 3D models, care teams can better prepare for procedures and provide more personalized care for children with heart defects.

Read how virtual reality is changing the future of pediatric heart care and the role donor support plays in making it possible.

discoverymag.umn.edu/stories/a-new-dimension-of-care

For Jeff and Holly Parker, giving back to the University of Minnesota is more than philanthropy, it's a way to honor the experiences that shaped their family.

Inspired by their own journeys and their son Jack's incredible experience as a Gopher, the Parkers established a "forever gift" through the Parker Family Scholarship, ensuring that students with financial need will continue to have access to life-changing educational opportunities.

Read more about how the Parkers are building a lasting legacy and the impact estate planning can have on future generations of Gophers.

give.umn.edu/stories/forever-gift

When Jason Kopacz was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just 36 years old, he didn’t slow down, he laced up his running shoes and started moving forward.

Twelve years, 14,000 miles, and six marathons later, Jason continues to run not only for his own health, but for a future without Parkinson’s. Through the Team Kopacz Foundation, he has helped raise more than $250,000 to support Parkinson’s disease research at the University of Minnesota.

Read more about Jason’s inspiring story and make a gift to support groundbreaking Parkinson’s disease research today.

discoverymag.umn.edu/stories/research-in-stride

University of Minnesota Giving The University of Minnesota Foundation raises and manages gifts from individuals and organizations to support U of M causes. www.give.umn.edu

This spring, more than 250 young raptors will arrive at The Raptor Center in need of lifesaving care. Thanks to a matching gift from loyal donors Ann and Tom Schwalen, every donation made today will be doubled up to $50,000.

Your support helps provide the food, medications, equipment, and expert care baby raptors need for a second chance at life. 🦉

crowdfund.umn.edu/campaigns/BabyRaptors26

From climate policy work at the Capitol to ecology fieldwork in Ireland, Martha Wondimu is turning her passion for environmental justice into action 🌎

The third-year CFANS student is combining science, policy and hands-on experiences to shape a future focused on sustainability and meaningful change, all while discovering new opportunities through study abroad and scholarship support.

See how scholarship support is helping Martha pursue opportunities that are shaping her future: give.umn.edu/stories/bridging-science-and-society

From reading textbooks at a one-dollar bookstore to becoming a second-year student at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Nicholas Chapman’s journey is powered by resilience and determination.

After experiencing homelessness as a teen, Nicholas found purpose in medicine through his desire to provide others with the sense of safety and trust he once searched for himself.

Read more about Nicholas’s inspiring story and learn how you can support students like him at: give.umn.edu/stories/safety-and-trust

Every gift makes a difference, and today your impact goes twice as far. Thanks to The Raptor Center’s loyal donors Ann and Tom Schwalen, all gifts will be matched up to $50,000.

Each spring, more than 250 young raptors arrive at The Raptor Center in need of urgent care. From medications and specialized equipment to food and expert treatment, donor support makes lifesaving care possible.

Your gift can help provide:
🦅 One day of food for a baby bald eagle for $10
🪶 One week of food for a baby American kestrel for $20
🦉 One week of food for a baby great horned owl for $40

Learn more about how you can support TRC today: crowdfund.umn.edu/campaigns/BabyRaptors26

I'm supporting the University of Minnesota Foundation! Help support community and outreach at the University of Minnesota.

Could red seaweed help reduce cows’ methane emissions? 🌎🐄

Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center found that adding small amounts of red seaweed to dairy cattle diets reduced methane emissions by 30–40%, without affecting milk production. Supported by donor funding, this research is helping advance more sustainable solutions for agriculture.

Learn more about this research and its potential impact: https://bit.ly/4trdoOx

CFANS

At the University of Minnesota Medical School, students like Lila Lohmiller are turning a passion for close-knit communities into a purpose-driven career. Through the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP), she’s gaining hands-on experience across the full spectrum of care and building meaningful relationships with patients every step of the way.

Learn more about their story and how to can support RPAP today at: give.umn.edu/stories/medicine-all-minnesota

At University of Minnesota Morris, students like Connor Kuhn and Hannah Robertson are proving that curiosity, and a little ingenuity, can take you far. With no formal rocketry classes available, they built their own path, designing and launching “Morris Maang” as part of the Intercollegiate High-Powered Rocket Challenge.

With mentorship from the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium and dedicated faculty, their journey was powered by hands-on learning, collaboration, and determination. For Connor, the experience reinforced a lifelong passion for science, and a future goal of developing new treatments to fight disease.

Read more about their story at: https://give.umn.edu/stories/new-heights