$1.8 million gift to expand opportunities for Arizona students at ASU
CDH Charitable Foundation donation will support scholarships for 3 separate units

By  Lindsay Lohr, ASU News
August 14, 2025

From studying abroad to serving the community to pursuing higher education, the CDH Charitable Foundation has opened up a world of opportunities to Arizona State University students with a $1.8 million gift dedicated to expanding opportunities for Arizona students.

The donation supports scholarships through the Global Education Office, the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

This generous award is not the first time the CDH Charitable Foundation has donated to ASU. Over the previous years, the foundation has supported many units across the university, funding initiatives like the Cantelme Scholars and scholarships in the Global Education Office, donating over $2.5 million to students at ASU. This latest gift is their largest yet.

One million dollars of the gift is being awarded to the Global Education Office to help expand access to study and intern abroad opportunities through the Local to Global Scholarship initiative. The scholarship grants $5,000 scholarships to Arizona resident students pursuing a Global Flex Program or a summer internship program, breaking down the most commonly cited barrier to studying abroad: cost. Thanks to the CDH Charitable Foundation's gift, hundreds of students over the next five years will receive highly impactful funding to pursue a global learning experience. In some cases, their scholarship will cover most of the program fee.

“Cost is the biggest barrier that students face when exploring study abroad opportunities,” said Noah Rost, executive director of the Global Education Office. “This gift from the CDH Charitable Foundation largely eliminates that challenge for students and will help to provide access to enriching global programs for students regardless of their financial circumstances.”

Alya Alasseid, a first-generation college student from Phoenix, received a Local to Global Scholarship from previous funding from the CDH Charitable Foundation to use toward her internship in Barcelona, Spain, this past summer.

“As someone passionate about making a difference in the intersection of law and health care, I see my internship abroad as a steppingstone in my professional journey,” Alasseid said. “I hope to bring back knowledge and skills to my local community and inspire others in my family and community to seek opportunities outside our comfort zones and pursue their ambitions without fear.”

The CDH Charitable Foundation partnered with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication to establish the Richard de Uriarte Scholarship Fund, named after the journalist who passed away in 2024, through the ASU Foundation for a New American University. Over the course of his career, de Uriate held several positions and was also an adjunct professor at the Cronkite School, where he taught ethics of journalism.

“The impact of Richard’s time at Cronkite is evident from the many former students who can recount their experiences in his classes or their conversations and the advice that he shared,” said Battinto Batts Jr., dean of the Cronkite School. “Although he no longer walks our halls, Richard’s legacy lives on, and his name and the values he believed in will continue to impact students for some time to come.”

The scholarship will start by awarding two students graduating from an Arizona high school in the upcoming year with $5,000 per year for a maximum of four years. Starting the fourth year, the scholarship will expand to support a total of eight students per year.

The portion donated to the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions by the CDH Charitable Foundation will support 20 Arizona high school graduates who enroll in the Next Generation Service Corps. These students will also receive $5,000 scholarships over the next four years. The next cohort will be selected in September.

For one of the board members and retired Phoenix Fire Captain Pat Cantelme, the Next Generation Service Corps strikes a personal chord, aligning closely with his own career of service.

“I could not be more grateful to the CDH Foundation for their ongoing generous support of the Public Service Academy’s Next Generation Service Corps,” said Cynthia Lietz, dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and vice provost of the Downtown Phoenix campus. “Investments like this allow us to expand our reach and impact. The CDH Charitable Foundation is a wonderful partner who clearly lives the ASU Charter.”

Thanks to the CDH Charitable Foundation’s ongoing generosity, more learners can pursue higher education and the unique opportunities ASU provides for years to come.

Changing futures campaign

This investment is part of ASU’s Changing Futures campaign.

ASU is committed to providing inclusive educational access and innovative solutions to the complexities of modern life. Fueled by philanthropic investment and unique partnerships, the university’s Changing Futures campaign is committed to raising resources to have a direct and significant impact on the communities we serve.

The campaign focuses on six key areas: enhancing education access, developing leaders, promoting sustainability, strengthening communities, advancing health and developing impactful technology.

This story originally appeared on ASU News.