Rich and Lisa Boehne, Bill and Sue Butler Contribute $2 Million to NKU LIFT Scholars Program

Northern Kentucky University announces a new LIFT Scholars Program, created from $2 million in gifts to support the university’s Further, Faster Campaign. Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky, through the support of Rich and Lisa Boehne and Bill and Sue Butler, has committed $1 million dollars each from the Rich and Lisa Boehne Fund and the Eagle One Fund to be used as a matching fund to establish LIFT, which stands for Lifelong Investment and Future Transformation.

The program focuses on NKU students who have demonstrated academic potential but are at risk of not completing their degrees. The university will match the $2 million with other gifts from the community. Once realized, the program will have $4 million to support student success.

The LIFT program will award $5,000 to students who demonstrate a significant financial need and/or are the first in their family to attend college.

“The wrap around services built into the LIFT Scholars Program really spoke to me. NKU serves students from diverse backgrounds, some are first generation or working full time, who may not have the support to navigate the college experience. The LIFT program not only addresses the financial challenges of college, but it works to ensure no one slips through the cracks,” said Rich Boehne, NKU alumnus and E.W. Scripps Company chairman of the board.

The university unveiled Further, Faster: The Campaign for NKU in May. It has raised nearly $49 million toward the $75 million goal. More than 12,000 donors have contributed nearly 34,000 gifts. The Boehnes and Butlers’ gifts were made to the Horizon Community Fund, which was established in 2017 to pool resources to make a difference in northern Kentucky. They designated their contribution to NKU because of the essential role it plays in the region.

The LIFT Scholars Program is anticipated to begin taking student applications for the next academic year. To learn more about the LIFT Scholars Program, the matching gift or the Further, Faster Campaign, visit its website.