Donor Commits $2 Million to Buffalo State Education Scholarships

A planned gift from Deborah Diehl will fund education students at Buffalo State University through a new endowed scholarship fund.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Scholarships

Donor Commits $2 Million to Buffalo State Education Scholarships

Deborah Diehl has committed a planned gift of $2 million to Buffalo State University to support education students. The gift will establish the Mary Edna Baker Donaldson, 1913 and Mary Ellen Donaldson Diehl, 1939 Endowed Scholarship Fund in Education.

Why it matters

Once implemented, the gift will provide $80,000 annually for books, technology, and supplies, and it is expected to benefit 80 or more students each year in Buffalo and across Western New York. The fund honors two women who were educators, reflecting the university's long role in training teachers for the region.

The planned gift totals $2 million and is projected to generate $80,000 per year for education students' books, technology and supplies. Eligible majors include elementary, music, exceptional and secondary education, while the exact implementation date remains unspecified.

The players

Buffalo State University

Buffalo State University is a public college in Buffalo, New York, with a long tradition of training teachers, originally founded as the State Normal School.

The details

Diehl chose to direct the money to Buffalo State rather than other charities, saying she wanted to honor her mother and grandmother. Mary Edna Baker Donaldson graduated from the State Normal and Training School in 1913 and taught sixth grade at Harding Elementary in Buffalo for 46 years, while Mary Ellen Donaldson Diehl graduated from State Teacher's College at Buffalo in 1939 and taught first and second grade on Grand Island in the 1940s.

August 23, 1893: Mary Edna Baker Donaldson is born in Randolph, New York.
1913: Mary Edna Baker Donaldson graduates from State Normal and Training School.
1960: Mary Edna Baker Donaldson retires from teaching.
May 23, 1918: Mary Ellen Donaldson Diehl is born in Buffalo.
November 14, 2026: The $2 million planned gift is announced.

Legacy Pipeline

The gift follows the teacher-training model of the State Normal School, where Mary Edna Baker Donaldson earned her credential in 1913 before a 46-year classroom career. It channels a family's educational legacy into support for the next generation of Western New York teachers.

Education students at Buffalo State who qualify in elementary, music, exceptional or secondary education may be eligible for support from the fund once implemented. The annual $80,000 could help cover the cost of books, technology and classroom supplies.

The takeaway

Family-funded endowments can sustain a school's support for students across generations. Students interested in education scholarships should ask their college's financial aid office about endowed funds in their major.