Walter Pyramid donors support recently created Long Beach internship program
When Mike Walter was in grade school, he would bundle up before heading out into the frigid Midwest winters. Mittens, hats and scarves were a must.
So, if a classmate lost a mitten, without hesitation, Mike would give them one of his own.
“Then I’d run home and tell my grandmother she had to knit another,” he said, laughing at the memory.
That giving nature was instilled early on in both Mike and his wife Arline and has inspired their long history of philanthropy at The Beach.
Arline’s mother was a volunteer financial secretary for their church in the “tiny little town” of Marble Rock, Iowa. Mike’s grandparents donated money to build a one-room community center so people could vote in the “tinier town” of Albany, Ill.
“Even when they didn’t have the money to give away, they had time to give away and they did,” Arline said. “We learned that giving to others when we have the money, and giving our time, is rewarding.”
Ever since Mike was named College of Business dean in 1993, the Walters have been fixtures at Cal State Long Beach and within the City of Long Beach. They were the lead donors to the Pyramid that bears their name (which is fitting, since Arline is an avid sports fan), and their support for Long Beach State Athletics continues. They have also contributed to nearly every college on campus, from the Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir in the College of the Arts to the rocketry team within the College of Engineering, to the College of Education and College of Business.
The couple also devotes their time to volunteering at various nonprofits in Long Beach. Mike has served on “about 25 different boards … too many to list,” he said. Arline uses skills from her educational background – an MBA and a master’s degree in mathematics – to volunteer in finance-related positions and on boards at the Assistance League of Long Beach, the YMCA of Greater Long Beach, and the Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach.
“Basically, when somebody calls and says,‘Can you help?’ We usually listen,” Arline said.
Recently, the couple donated to the Long Beach Community Internship Project (LBCIP), which connects Long Beach College Promise students to internships at local nonprofits.
They said they were drawn to the program because it is a mutually beneficial experience for the university, the students, the City of Long Beach and the nonprofits. Students in the program spend time in a classroom as well as at the nonprofit, which “helps maximize the benefit of the internship and helps students realize the value of the experience,” Arline said.
The Walters funded the $1,500 participation awards for all students in the program’s summer cohort, but have done more than simply donate, said Beth Manke, LBCIP Director, acting dean for Student Success.
“What I appreciate about the Walters is that they walk the walk. It’s easy for people to talk about the importance of education, access, and equitable participation, it’s another to really walk the walk, and not just with your money,” Manke said. “It would be appreciated and sufficient just to fund the project, but they really go above and beyond and are interested in connecting with the students.”
The couple is used to a steady stream of telephone calls, packed schedules and long to-do lists, but they find time for The Beach because they recognize the value of education.
“Education is the best investment you can make,” Mike said. “The people you help remember the impact you’ve made on them for a long time.”
