Celebrate Marywood Event Honors Richard and Erin Kane and Raises Nearly $400,000

Marywood University’s reimagined flagship annual fundraising event, Celebrate Marywood, formerly known as the Community Leadership Celebration, took place on Thursday, May 1, 2025. The outdoor celebration, held in the picturesque Motherhouse and Seminary Morgan Memorial Garden, marked a significant milestone by raising nearly $400,000 to support vital campus improvements and enhance the student experience at Marywood University.

Since its inception in 2014, the event has raised over $4.2 million, with the 2025 total setting a new benchmark for generosity and community engagement. Proceeds from this year’s event will directly fund projects that enrich and enhance the student experience at Marywood for years to come.

This year, Marywood honored Richard and Erin Kane of Dalton with the Inspire Award for their outstanding contributions to the university and the broader region. Their leadership, including Mr. Kane’s past service as a trustee and board chair, along with the couple’s philanthropic commitment to Marywood, embodies the institution’s mission and core values. Additionally, their dedicated leadership and care have inspired Marywood students in their pursuit of education and service.

“Together, Dick and Erin have made lasting contributions that are woven into the very fabric of our campus,” said Lisa A. Lori, J.D., President of Marywood University. “Their legacy is not only written in bricks and mortar, but in the lives of our students—students who have benefited from their generosity, their leadership, and their belief in the future of Marywood.”

The celebration featured an array of food stations, live music by the band Old Friends, dancing, and a spectacular 3-D digital mapping show projected onto Marywood’s iconic Liberal Arts Center. The event provided a festive atmosphere where alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and friends of the university came together to celebrate Marywood’s growth, community spirit, and vision for the future.

Marywood University extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who attended, sponsored, and supported Celebrate Marywood. Their contributions play a pivotal role in advancing the university’s mission and ensuring a bright future for its students.

To learn more about Celebrate Marywood, go to marywood.edu/celebratemarywood or call (570) 348-6238.