A $1 million gift commitment from the Mars and Airth families will support the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine's efforts to empower students and advance research. 

The gift – which reflects the families' commitment to veterinary medicine and creating a better world for people and animals – will fund the Mars/Airth Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine endowment and ongoing human-animal interaction research. The scholarship will provide $70,000 of financial support per year over the next five years to students pursuing careers in veterinary medicine.

"This scholarship endowment will support our students' financial well-being and contribute to the long-term success of future veterinary professionals," said Dr. Julie Funk, dean of the college.

In addition to the endowed scholarship, the gift commitment will provide $130,000 per year to ongoing research on the connections between humans and animals and the effects of these relationships. This financial gift creates opportunities to strategically expand and invest in research exploring how animals influence community health and well-being. 

"Mars' and Airth financial commitment enables us to push the boundaries of what we know about human-animal bonds, expand our research teams and foster further innovation," said Maggie O'Haire, associate dean of research and a professor at the college. "Our work has the potential to impact both humans and animals positively."

"The incredible research coming out of the College of Veterinary Medicine is a source of pride for the U of A," said John-Paul Roczniak, president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation. "This gift is a great example of how philanthropy can power important research, in this case the human-animal bond, which plays a huge role in so many lives."

Mars' and Airth investment in scholarships and human-animal interaction research strengthens the college's mission and vision of creating compassionate, well-equipped veterinarians and researchers. 

The U of A college – the state's first and only public veterinary medicine program – was launched in 2020 and includes curriculum that spans three years, unlike most traditional veterinary degree programs in the U.S., which are four years, allowing students to enter the workforce one year sooner. 

"This program is like no other in the nation, and students will receive one of the most innovative learning experiences possible, based on our team-based learning model over a rigorous three-year program," Funk said. 

This $1 million gift commitment is part of the Fuel Wonder campaign, the university's $3 billion fundraising effort. Gifts already made to the campaign are giving every student access to a cohesive ecosystem of support while powering new insights through research in areas including cancer engineering and space sciences.