A gift in memory of or in honor of a friend or loved one is more than an expression of love and respect. There is no more meaningful way to honor a life than by a gift that continues to benefit others.

A gift "in honor of" someone is made while that person is living, often for milestone occasions such as a graduation, promotion, birth of a child or grandchild, or retirement. A gift "in memory of" someone is the term used when the namesake is deceased. All these gifts are referred to as commemorative.

There are many ways to make a commemorative gift. All the financial strategies of planned giving apply, or you may choose to make an outright gift. As is the case with all gifts to PSU, you may designate the placement of your gift and will probably want to choose a program important to the gift's namesake. If you need assistance selecting a program, our development officers would be happy to help with suggestions.

You may even want to create a fund in someone's name. It may be a one-time gift or you and others can contribute to the fund annually. Sometimes these funds are endowed. This means that your gift is invested and only a portion of the income will be used for the intended purpose. An endowed fund usually requires a substantial gift in order to generate sufficient income.