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Salzwedel Family Fund donates $1 million to Wartburg's Our Brightest Days campaign

Waverly, IA (04/01/2025) — The Salzwedel Family Fund, founded by Jack and Sarah Salzwedel, has committed $1 million to Wartburg College's Our Brightest Days campaign in support of student scholarships and experiential learning.

The campaign, which launched publicly March 27, seeks to raise $36 million for scholarships, experiential learning, community wellness and recreation, and classroom technology among other priorities. More than $20 million has already been secured for the campaign, which will wrap up in October 2026.

"Our commitment to Our Brightest Days is rooted in our belief that Wartburg's mission is more critical than ever," Jack Salzwedel said. "The campaign's vision aligns with the values of leadership, service and academic excellence, and we felt compelled to step forward at a high level to help secure Wartburg's future."

The Salzwedels' gift includes $550,000 in support of Wartburg Commitment scholarships, designed to ensure students with significant financial need have access to a Wartburg education. The remaining $450,000 will benefit the Knight's Experience Fund, which provides up to $1,500 for each undergraduate student to use for experiential learning opportunities. The Wartburg Commitment, which began last fall, ensures greater access for more undergraduate students through a lower sticker price, targeted scholarship programs and funding to support experiential education.

"We are deeply grateful to Jack and Sarah Salzwedel for their incredible generosity and commitment to Wartburg College. Their transformational gift strengthens our ability to provide scholarships and experiential learning opportunities and will undoubtedly inspire others to invest in our students' futures," said Rebecca Ehretsman, Wartburg College president. "The Salzwedels know firsthand the lifelong impact of a Wartburg education - one that shapes leaders, fosters service and transforms lives. Thanks to their leadership and the collective support of our community, we are confident that Wartburg will continue to prepare generations of students to lead with purpose and make a difference in the world."

The family also worked with the college to use part of their gift to leverage donors on Wartburg's UKnight Day, an annual day of giving that encourages alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends to share their Wartburg experiences online and donate to the college. In addition to a $50,000 matching gift for scholarships, the Salzwedels offered a $250,000 challenge gift that was unlocked once 1,700 individuals donated on UKnight Day.

"Our family has always believed in the transformative power of education. And ensuring that talented and hardworking students have access to a Wartburg education - regardless of financial barriers - is a commitment we hold deeply. We hope that our support of student scholarships will help future generations of Wartburg Knights," Sarah Salzwedel said.

The Salzwedels, both 1982 Wartburg alumni from Madison, Wis., have had three children attend the college. Jack Salzwedel retired as CEO of American Family Insurance in 2021 and as executive chair of the American Family board in 2023. He served on the college's Board of Regents for nearly a decade. Strong supporters of the college, the couple's previous gifts have enhanced the soccer stadium and helped renovate Vollmer and Slife halls in the Ubuntu Center, as well as created the Slife Institute for Social Work Consultation, Research, and Training named in honor of Sarah's parents, the late Harry and Polly Slife of Cedar Falls.

"We see this campaign as a way to build upon Wartburg's legacy and invest in a future where students continue to thrive and make a difference. Supporting Our Brightest Days is not just a gift - it's a statement of faith in what Wartburg stands for and the impact it will have for generations to come," Jack Salzwedel said.

Wartburg College, a four-year liberal arts college internationally recognized for community engagement, enrolls about 1,500 students. A college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wartburg is dedicated to challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning. The college is characterized by vigorous academic expectations and community engagement within an environment of strong personal support.

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The Salzwedel family on the Wartburg campus celebrating another graduation

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