It was Thanksgiving week, and Dana Hirsch, BSBA ’03, a first-year business student at Washington University in St. Louis, was more than ready for a break. In fact, she was counting down the hours until she could catch her Wednesday midday flight home to New Jersey.
The only catch? She had a math exam at the same time, and the airline refused to exchange the tickets her parents had purchased months in advance. So Dana’s professor stepped in to help. WashU’s Department of Mathematics asked the chair of Dana’s high school math department to proctor the exam for her at home.
“WashU coordinated this as though I was an individual and not just one of thousands of students at a huge institution,” Dana recalls. “It is so consistent with every experience I had at the university. WashU is a large school, but it’s still intimate. You matter.”
Dana and her husband, Brian Hirsch, AB ’04, still hold dear to moments like this, which they see as hallmarks of a WashU education. Fond memories of their alma mater also inspired their five-year $200,000 pledge to endow the Hirsch Family Scholarship for undergraduate students with financial need.
“College is expensive,” Brian says. “But that doesn’t mean young people shouldn’t have the opportunity to pursue an education. Ensuring that WashU continues to draw smart, talented people from all walks of life motivates us.”
A place to thrive
Now lawyers living in Scarsdale, New York, with their two daughters, the Hirsches came to WashU from the East Coast. They agree that their friendships and interactions with students from across the country deepened their WashU experience.
“We had friends who had never been to a bigger city than St. Louis, and we had friends who grew up in New York City,” says Brian, whose first-year roommate was from rural Nebraska. “It was so interesting to learn about and from their different stories.”
Scholarships made it possible for many of their friends to choose WashU. “The university wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t able to draw students from a variety of backgrounds,” Brian says. “It’s such a foundational quality of WashU.”
Growing up Jewish in New Jersey, Dana was part of a warm and uplifting community. At WashU, she found a similarly welcoming and inclusive environment. “I always felt comfortable and supported here,” she says. “And I appreciate how that feeling continues for WashU students today.”
“College is expensive. But that doesn’t mean young people shouldn’t have the opportunity to pursue an education. Ensuring that WashU continues to draw smart, talented people from all walks of life motivates us.”
Brian Hirsch
In recent years, the Hirsches have been especially impressed by how Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and other university leaders have navigated complex political situations.
“Safe, intentional dialogue is more important than ever before,” Brian says. “But it clearly isn’t a new concept at WashU. It’s embedded in the university’s culture, and we’re proud to see it endure.”
Over the years, the Hirsches have contributed to WashU’s Annual Fund, Arts & Sciences, and the Department of Political Science, among other areas. However, the couple, who are members of the Eliot Society — which recognizes donors who contribute $1,000 or more annually to the university — determined they were ready to step up their philanthropy. “Our alma mater shares our values, and we respect its leadership,” Dana says. “Now is the time for us to show our support.”
Maximizing their impact
When the Hirsches made their scholarship gift last May, they took advantage of the Catalyst Challenge established by New York-based venture capitalist Lee Fixel, BSBA ’02, and his wife, Lauren. The challenge, which has now concluded, provided $2.5 million to help endowed scholarship donors amplify their giving. The Fixels matched 25% of gifts of $200,000 or more for endowed scholarships — up to $200,000 per gift. The match added $50,000 to the Hirsches’ original commitment, bringing their total to $250,000.
The Hirsches share mutual friends with the Fixels, which helped make their decision to participate in the challenge even more appealing. “It helps when you know the people behind the name,” says Dana, who attended Olin Business School with Lee. “We were eager to leverage Lee and Lauren’s generosity to enhance our gift.”
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The couple’s gift also advances WashU’s efforts to increase student access through With You: The WashU Campaign, which launched in May 2025. The campaign’s other impact areas, which include healthier lives, flourishing communities, and future-ready leaders, resonate with the couple as well.
“We trust the university and its mission, which is global and constantly adapting,” Brian says. “Our main goal is to give back meaningfully to an institution that has supported us.”
Philanthropy as a family value
Beyond making a difference in the lives of WashU students, the Hirsches are excited to model philanthropy to their daughters. “We’re in a position where we have the resources to do more, and our kids are at an age where they can observe more,” Dana says. “Philanthropy is a great opportunity to talk to them about identifying their values and teach them that organizations whose passions align with theirs can’t function without funding.”
Setting an example is especially critical now that their oldest daughter is in high school. With college only a few years away, they hope she will focus on finding a strong community like they had at WashU.
“The university fosters independence,” Brian says. “You’re pushed to become an adult, but there’s still a layer of protection. It mirrors the way we’re raising our kids and the environment we want for them.”
