Recent Alum Cade Bleashka ’23 BBA ’24 MA Makes $50,000 Endowment to Support Accounting Students

First-Gen Success Story Inspires Others to Dream Bigger and Give Back Sooner

by Luke Wilson '24

Following his master’s graduation in 2024, Bloomsburg alum Cade Bleashka has made a significant gift of $50,000 to support accounting students at Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg (CU–Bloomsburg). This scholarship will provide ongoing support for students in the Zeigler College of Business and marks the beginning of a new philanthropic relationship between Cade and his alma mater—an important example of alumni giving back to help future generations of Huskies.

“Cade’s gift is both inspiring and encouraging,” said Jerome Dvorak, Executive Director of the Bloomsburg University Foundation. “For a recent graduate to make such a meaningful commitment speaks volumes about his character and his belief in the mission of Bloomsburg.”

A first-generation college student from Mahanoy City in Schuylkill County, Cade grew up just 40 minutes from campus. He was familiar with the area from his visits to the Bloomsburg Fair, and when it came time to choose a college, the value and reputation of Bloomsburg’s accounting program made the decision easy.

But above all, Cade credits the Upward Bound program for its pivotal role in his success. With 25% of CU–Bloomsburg’s incoming first-year students identifying as first-generation and state funding for public universities down 40% since 1984, programs like Upward Bound are more important than ever.

“It’s challenging because you can’t ask your family members, ‘Hey, what’s college like?’ because they have no idea,” Cade explained. “The Upward Bound program filled that gap.”

He continued, “I come from a small family, poor area. I was concerned at different points that I would have to stop doing school to work,” he said. “And I didn’t have to do that because… my scholarship covered everything school related.”

In the summer of 2023, Cade interned at Ernst & Young Global Limited (EY), and a year later was hired full-time in Forensics & Integrity Services. There, he learned about making a planned gift using his life insurance policy and committed $25,000, which was matched by EY for a total endowment of $50,000.

“Because I was the beneficiary of so many scholarships, I always knew I wanted to give back as soon as I was able to. It’s just the right thing to do,” Cade said. “You have to feed the cycle so more smart minds can come through school and do great things.”

Cade Bleashka’s story is a testament to the life-changing impact of scholarship support at CU–Bloomsburg. Not only was he able to graduate without taking out loans for his undergraduate degree, but he also turned around and gave back—opening the door for others to thrive, just as he did.

His gift supports The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us, a historic fundraising initiative focused on attracting promising students, elevating their potential, and preparing them for successful careers. Cade’s gift bring the campaign one step closer to its $100M goal and serves as a shining example of how the campaign’s vision is already being realized—through Huskies helping Huskies.

To learn more about The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us and how you can make a difference, visit https://giving.bloomu.edu/the-campaign-for-bloomsburg-it-starts-with-us.