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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A decision by the Montana State University-Billings Foundation to cancel its Christmas party for those who have donated to student scholarships was met with more donations.

Marilynn Miller, foundation president, says past parties haven't been extravagant, with costs being no more than $500.

But in the face of a struggling economy, Miller says the staff decided to put the $500 toward a scholarship.

The foundation wrote a letter to donors notifying them that there would not be a party, and people responded by donating another $1,500.

The decline in the stock market has caused the MSU-Billings Foundation's endowment to drop 18.5 percent over the past year, to $12.5 million.

Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-26-08 0931CST | save this article / add to your favorites list