“Archimedes of Ancient Greece once said, ‘If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world.’” 

Brad and Susan Davis grew up in the Northwest and moved to Spokane in 2000. Brad, born and raised in Montana, worked for a business that supported educational philanthropy and health care. Susan, originally from Idaho, also worked in business and helped start a foundation for a private school here in Spokane. Philanthropy has always been a part of their work and their passion. 
 
They also became passionate about trades education during their years in Denver, CO when they partnered with a local school district that provided technical education. The Davis’s saw how quicky students could gain an education that allowed them to enter and be successful in their chosen career field. 
 
When they moved back to Spokane, Brad called Spokane Community College to ask if the college provided any trades education. The Foundation and Technical Education teams did what they do best: shared about the amazing students and programs we work with every day. 
 
“We loved what we learned,” Brad said. 
 
They quickly decided to support. The Davis’s created a scholarship for students in SCC trades programs, as well as an endowment that will allow their scholarship to support students for generations. 
 
“We want to make it possible that students can get assistance so they can realize their goals,” the Davis’s explained. They also want to connect the college programs to the professional trades community and local employers. “We want them to be encouraged.” As Brad put it, it’s those students who will go on to support our community. 
 
“If we can invest in our communities, the difference our students make in a short amount of time in incredible.”
 
It’s this cycle of support and encouragement that motivates their philanthropy. And it’s also that quote from Archimedes: “If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world.”
 
When you hear Brad Davis share this quote, you can almost see the world move.
 
“We’re not rich, but when we have extra, we give it to places like the CCS Foundation that are that lever,” Brad said. 
 
He explains that the students, the Foundation team, the CCS employees and faculty are each giving in their own way. “They’re helping students find firm places to stand and long levers to move the world.” 
 
And the Davis’s are sure that once people hear that story, they’ll see how fun and compelling it is to be a part of. 


Photo credit: Emily Poole