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Joel '96 and Kelly '96 Showalter Commit $100,000 to Increase Support for CU-Bloomsburg Students

Bloomsburg, PA (03/05/2025) — Joel '96 and Kelly '96 Showalter have expanded their support for Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg students with a $50,000 gift to the Bloomsburg University Foundation (BUF), which, through a dollar-for-dollar match from JD Fields & Company Inc., where Joel serves as Vice President and CFO-doubling their gift to an impressive $100,000. This investment will open new doors for CU-Bloomsburg students, fueling their success and shaping future leaders.

Joel and Kelly, who currently reside in Houston, Texas, have made a renewed commitment to their alma mater in recent years, re-engaging through philanthropy and volunteerism. In April 2023, the couple made a gift to establish the Joel & Kelly Showalter Accounting Scholarship. Inspired by the recent launch of The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us, they recently increased their support to make an even greater impact on student success.

"Joel and Kelly's generosity will profoundly impact the lives of students, opening doors to new opportunities and empowering them to pursue their dreams," said Commonwealth University President Bashar Hanna. "This incredible gift will directly impact students pursuing their dreams, and we are eternally grateful for their support."

Joel earned his degree in accounting from Bloomsburg in 1996, leveraging the university's strong alumni network to launch a career in finance. As a student, he was actively involved in campus life, participating in intramural sports, the QUEST program, and serving as Vice President of Alpha Chi Rho, a leadership-focused fraternity.

After graduation, he built a distinguished career, spending nearly a decade at General Electric Oil & Gas Inc., five years at Bayou Well Services, and now nearly nine years at JD Fields & Company Inc. in Houston. As his professional journey has evolved, so too has his appreciation for the foundation that his Bloomsburg experience provided. Now, with three children either in or approaching college, Joel and Kelly feel a renewed connection to their alma mater and see this as the perfect time to give back to the university that helped shape their success.

Joel reconnected with Bloomsburg in February 2023, not only making a major financial commitment but also participating in the ZIPD Conference to mentor current students and eventually becoming a member of the Bloomsburg University Foundation Board of Directors. He and JD Fields & Company Inc. share a deep commitment to philanthropy, and Joel believes gifts to Bloomsburg make a greater impact than at larger universities.

"We are excited to be part of The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us. Seeing the university grow and evolve is just one of the many reasons we choose to give back," said Joel. "I learned so much at Bloomsburg-not just in the classroom, but through lifelong relationships and experiences that shaped who I am today," Joel said. "Once we were in a position to become more involved and to give back, the decision was easy."

This generous gift exemplifies the spirit of The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us, the university's historic $100 million comprehensive campaign dedicated to attracting, preparing, and elevating students for lifelong success. Thanks to the generosity of the Showalters, the campaign total has now reached $83,846,953-bringing Bloomsburg even closer to making this bold vision a reality.

For more information on The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us and how to get involved, visit giving.bloomu.edu/ItStartsWithUs.

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Kelly and Joel Showalter

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