A Decade of Giving From Economics Graduate

A Decade of Giving From Economics Graduate

By Eric Breier

Dawn Myers (right), shown on CSUSM Giving Day in 2017, is one of three alumni who have donated every year since the university's inaugural event in 2015.

Giving back seems to be part of Dawn Myers' DNA.

As a teenager, Myers started a small nonprofit to raise money for cancer treatment and research in honor of a friend who had leukemia. Years later, as an incoming freshman at Cal State San Marcos, Myers secured a job with Associated Students, Inc., as a student receptionist. The role helped her meet a network of students involved on campus, which led to her involvement in CSUSM's Student Philanthropy Council and, eventually, to participating in the inaugural CSUSM Giving Day in 2015.

"I think my exposure to the student philanthropy world and the CSUSM Foundation Board came from different student connections through ASI," Myers said. "But giving was always part of what I did as a student, including as an adolescent."

On Dec. 3, when CSUSM hosts its 10^th annual Giving Day, Myers will do what she's done every year since that first one - give. Myers is one of 15 people - and one of just three alumni - who have donated on CSUSM Giving Day every year since its inception.

CSUSM Giving Dayis part of Giving Tuesday, an international day focused on philanthropy. For 24 hours, donors have an opportunity to choose from dozens of programs to support. Last year, CSUSM Giving Day raised nearly $460,000with contributions made by 2,410 donors. A variety of giving challenges are planned this year, including a dollar-for-dollar match from the Epstein family on the first $200,000 given up to $10,000 per gift.

In addition to donations, people can support CSUSM Giving Day by:

• Becoming an ambassador and helping to promote the program they love by reaching out to their personal networks on CSUSM Giving Day using their own custom link.
• Re-posting and commenting on their favorite CSUSM Giving Day social media posts to increase engagement and inspire others to give.
• Learning more about the causes that can be supported and the immediate impact that can be made by giving on Dec. 3.

Myers has supported many programs over the years, including the student philanthropy endowment fund, a variety of scholarships and the economics department from which she graduated in 2017.

"I give because I believe in philanthropy," said Myers, who leads sales operations for Carlsmed, a commercial stage medical technology company and leader of the personalized spine surgery market that is based in Carlsbad. "I believe also that education and access to education is the crux of societal and personal change. I think that it is the solution to bringing awareness to societal issues.

"And in responsible hands and minds, money is really quite a renewable resource. So philanthropy and giving back is a really like giving blood - it will come back, and the impact it will make is bigger than the impact you'll feel. And that's something I appreciate."

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