The Thayer Family Foundation is increasing educational opportunities for veterans at Pacific University by establishing a new endowed scholarship fund.
The Thayer Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship for Veterans will provide dedicated scholarships for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who reside in Oregon and southwest Washington and are enrolled in any of Pacific’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Applicants for the scholarship must demonstrate financial need.
The foundation’s $81,000 commitment to Pacific over the next three years furthers its goal of supporting the needs of Oregon veterans, military personnel and first responders, and those dedicated to societal and culturally significant fields such as education.
“I have been involved with Pacific for many years now, and I thought it was important to provide a scholarship for Pacific students who are in the military or have been involved,” said Tommy Thayer Hon. ’18, president of the Thayer Family Foundation, member of Pacific’s Board of Trustees, and lead guitarist for the legendary rock band KISS. “Anything that we can do to help these veterans move on, to have the opportunity to go to college, is very important for us.”
The scholarship furthers Pacific’s longtime commitment to supporting veterans. Pacific has been recognized year after year as one of the most supportive schools for military members and veterans in the West by MilitarySupportiveColleges.com, a coalition of web publishers that provides college guidance for veterans.
Pacific is a full participant in the Veterans Administration’s Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides funding to cover tuition and fees that exceed the annual gaps in the GI Bill. Additionally, Pacific regularly hosts graduate students participating in the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program, which provides full scholarships for graduate education in several medical fields, including optometry and psychology.
On Pacific’s Forest Grove Campus, a veterans’ lounge provides a dedicated “home away from home” where military-connected students can relax and recharge between classes. The university’s Veterans Services Club provides programming to connect with other veterans on campus and in the community.
The Thayer Family Foundation was founded by the family of retired Army Brig. Gen. James Thayer Hon. ’09, the father of Tommy Thayer and a longtime Portland-area business and community leader, to address veterans’ needs in the region. In 2025, the foundation partnered with Do Good Multnomah to open the Thayer Family Foundation Veterans Shelter in Portland, which houses and provides direct access to services for up to 18 veterans.
Both Thayers have received Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Pacific. James Thayer received his honorary doctorate in 2009, and Tommy Thayer received his in 2018.
The foundation has also committed funds to the Oregon Military Museum Project, providing for the upkeep of the Oregon Military Museum at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas.
Philanthropic gifts to Pacific University provide scholarships, emergency assistance, and support for students and programs. Join the Thayer Family Foundation in uplifting Pacific with a gift today. Visit pacificu.edu/give.