Beus gift powers up revolutionary science instrument

In 2019, Leo and Annette Beus invested $10 million at ASU to advance the world’s first compact X-ray free electron laser (CXFEL) and revolutionize applications in medicine, renewable energy, materials science and more. Only five XFELs exist in the world today. Scientists face long wait times to access these multi-billion-dollar, miles-long instruments. The CXFEL will enable universities, hospitals and other organizations to develop their own powerful tools at a fraction of the cost and size.

With help from the Beus gift, the project’s first phase — the compact X-ray light source, a powerful tool in its own right — generated its first X-rays in February 2023. This progress enabled ASU to successfully win $90.8 million from the National Science Foundation to complete the final stages of the CXFEL. From the very beginning, the CXFEL project has also provided opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to gain invaluable hands-on learning experiences.

A future in which all life on Earth can thrive

In 2004, Julie Ann Wrigley joined ASU President Michael M. Crow at a gathering of some of the world’s leading sustainability scientists, where the vision for a transdisciplinary sustainability institute emerged. Wrigley, a lifelong advocate for protecting our natural environments, believed that ASU was the right place to make the vision a reality.

That same year, Wrigley made a gift to establish the Global Institute of Sustainability at ASU, dedicated to a field that was virtually unknown at the time. The nation’s first School of Sustainability, opened in 2007, is a direct result of her commitment and philanthropy.

Through the Julie A. Wrigley Foundation, Wrigley has invested more than $50 million in ASU to date. Without these contributions, ASU would not have been able to become the global leader in sustainability it is today. In recognition of Wrigley’s contributions — which include considerable time, energy and passion — ASU established the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory in 2020. The laboratory is dedicated to reshaping our relationship with the planet so that all life on Earth can thrive.

Small gifts make a big impact

The collective power of small gifts is making a significant difference at ASU. In fiscal year 2024, 91% of donations to the university were under $500, and 80% were under $100. These gifts totaled over $5 million, which is used to fund student scholarships and research opportunities, tutoring, emergency support, research equipment and supplies, and much more.

Small gifts support a wide range of research projects in areas such as:

• Cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Archaeology and anthropology.
• Hearing loss and auditory disorders.
• Animal conservation.
• Autism spectrum disorder.
• Plastic pollution.