Bucknell Receives Gift to Elevate Student Health and Wellness

Bucknell University has received a $1.75-million commitment from Lance '85 and Julie Crenson Fritz '85 to advance health and wellness through a comprehensive, student-centered approach. 

The outright gift will propel the University's new health and wellness vision, which embodies a proactive approach that encourages students to seek support and establishes a community of care across 10 interconnected dimensions of wellness: cultural, digital, emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, physical, occupational, social and spiritual.

Lance '85 and Julie Crenson Fritz '85 are long-time champions of health, wellness and belonging efforts at Bucknell. Photo by Charles Kay from Laurie and Charles Photographs

By advancing this multifaceted strategy, the University aims to shape a campus culture where holistic wellness is evident in all aspects of student life.

"This gift allows our office to make significant strides toward our goals," says Moe McGuinness, vice president for Student Affairs & Fritz Family Dean of Students. "Thanks to the generosity of the Fritz family, we are developing new initiatives for mental health and drug and alcohol education, and we're launching campus-wide and peer-led programs to empower students to care for themselves and each other."

McGuinness and her team are capitalizing on the Fritzes' support by envisioning new programs that fill gaps and strengthen existing efforts. Students will benefit from refined and expanded efforts surrounding mental health, outdoor education and leadership, alcohol and drug education and interpersonal violence prevention. Beyond programming, the gift enables strategic enhancements across Bucknell's health and wellness ecosystem, including in the Counseling & Student Development Center, Outdoor Education & Leadership, and Interpersonal Violence Prevention & Advocacy.

"My life as a business leader has very much reinforced for me that you have to get the culture right before you get anything else right," says Lance, who is the retired president, CEO and chairman of the board of Union Pacific Railroad and member of Bucknell's Board of Trustees. "Moe is a relentless cultural engine. She's inexhaustible and laser focused, and that will pay dividends as we watch these programs take shape and change the student experience." 

Support from Lance '85 and Julie Crenson Fritz '85 will help ensure the continued success of Bucknell’s crew program. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

In addition to strengthening student health and wellness initiatives, the Fritzes' also made an additional $750,000 commitment to Bucknell's club-varsity crew program, which they recognize as a natural extension of Bucknell's commitment to holistic well-being. Lance — who was a member of the first Bucknell crew when the program began in 1983 — and Julie, believe deeply in the discipline, camaraderie and perseverance the sport instills, and see it as an embodiment of the connection between physical health, teamwork and personal growth. Their gift will help grow the endowment that supports the program's head coaching position, ensuring its continued strength and impact for generations to come. 

This recent generosity builds on their past support. In 2019, the Fritzes endowed the dean's role that bears their name, enabling Bucknell's Student Affairs Office to strengthen student health and wellness initiatives, including alcohol and other drug abuse prevention, as well as promoting belonging and connection.

"Student health and wellness, and specifically mental health, remains an important area, and a critical part of the administration of the University," says Lance. "Our latest gift helps ensure that students have the tools, resources and care they need to succeed."

Moe McGuinness (center), vice president for Student Affairs & Fritz Family Dean of Students, is building connection and refining systems to support health and wellness for Bucknell students. Photo by Emily Paine, Marketing & Communications

Under the role endowed by the Fritzes, McGuinness has made meaningful strides, solving students' summer storage needs, expanding the collection of items for the B-Eats food pantry and ensuring students have unlimited access to washers and dryers. She established a partnership with ClipDart, a mobile hair salon providing free, on-site, culturally competent haircare to all Bucknell students, and launched the Student Outreach and Support initiative to help students affected by barriers outside the classroom. McGuinness has ignited spirit and traditions initiatives on campus through " 'ray days" and spreading the orange and blue throughout campus. She also introduced a program designed to recognize students, faculty and staff for their contributions to the campus community.

"These touchpoints embed positivity," says Julie. "Moe and her team are pursuing the kind of holistic, wrap-around efforts that are foundational for positive health and well-being. We made this gift to ensure the development of these programs continues so that when a student comes to Bucknell, everything is there for them to succeed and graduate."

With the support of the Fritz family and under McGuinness's leadership, Bucknell is poised to create a lasting impact on students' lives through their campus experience, fostering a culture where holistic well-being, connection and resilience are woven into every aspect of campus life.