Can one person really make a difference?
With a gift to Indiana University, you can certainly change a life. Just ask IU Indianapolis senior Amy Mattingly.
At 6 months old, Amy was admitted to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis. There, doctors removed a benign teratoma that was attached to every organ in her abdomen. During the seven-hour surgery, Amy’s family received hourly updates from the nurses—the same ones who, the night before, crafted a princess crown out of a Styrofoam cup to cover the IV on Amy's head.
"I truly believe the physicians, nurses, and health care workers at Riley are miracle workers," she says.
Fittingly, Amy has returned to the site of that life-saving surgery 21 years ago. As a radiation therapy major at IU Indianapolis, Amy is on her way to becoming one of those “miracle workers” for others. She also competes in cross country and track, and has been recognized for her athletic, academic, and other accomplishments with the Michael A. Carroll Scholarship.
"Receiving that scholarship has allowed me to concentrate on school work, focus on athletics, and give my spare time to volunteering," Amy says. For example, this year she led efforts to clean and update Indianapolis' Cancer Survivor’s Park.
"I've been blessed with so many opportunities and great encouragement to become the best I can be," Amy says. "With motivation from my parents, coaches, teammates, professors, and advisors, I feel my time at IU Indianapolis is only the beginning of my opportunities to serve people in need."
Thanks to your generosity, stories like Amy’s unfold every day at IU. Your gifts empower students, faculty, alumni, and others to channel their passions into life-changing work:
- Making a Difference in Indiana | About 40% of the state’s nurses and 50% of its physicians are IU graduates.
- Making a Difference in the United States | An IU-led research program will help reduce the stigma of mental illness among college students across the country.
- Making a Difference Worldwide | Through the Kelley Institute for Social Impact, IU students use their business knowledge to battle poverty.
Perhaps one gift alone can't change the world, but it can definitely change a life—and that's a start. No matter what area you support or how much you give, you’re paving the way for a brighter future for us all. Thank you!
