Fundraising Update
by Michael K. Banach
St. Joseph’s College is pleased to announce it has received the largest financial donation in its history — a planned giving gift in the amount of $4 million from alumna Elaine Smythe ’52, which will be used to establish an endowed scholarship in memory of her parents, Daniel and Margaret Smythe.
The Daniel and Margaret Smythe Endowed Scholarship, which will benefit students in the field of child study, is a tribute to Elaine Smythe’s career as a former teacher in the New York public school system. She passed away on July 31, 2009.
A loyal friend of the College, Ms. Smythe facilitated this gift through the Aquinas Society, a group of dedicated alumni who seek to support our students by naming the College as a beneficiary of a planned gift. For more information regarding the Aquinas Society, please contact Assistant Vice President of Grants and Planned Giving Clare Kehoe at 718.940.5579.
In early October, the Consolidated Edison Company once again bestowed a generous $25,000 grant upon the College to increase the principal of the Consolidated Edison Math and Science Scholarship for the Brooklyn Campus.
Created in 2005, the scholarship’s goal is to provide financial support to students pursuing degrees in math and science. With its creation, students of limited economic means who would otherwise not be able to afford college can now pursue degrees in fields that are vital to New York City’s economy.
This fall, Dave Smith and his wife, Anna Pavelka Smith ’66 secured a $50,000 gift from the General Atlantic Foundation, which will be used to provide scholarship support to students pursuing a degree in child study.
As always, the support that the College receives from alumni and friends is crucial in fulfilling SJC’s mission of providing an affordable college education to our students.
As of November 1, the St. Joseph’s College Fund has raised close to $400,000. Even though the holidays are fast approaching, there is still time to make a gift to St. Joseph's this calendar year.
For more information about giving to the St. Joseph’s College Fund, please contact Annual Fund Development Officer Kimberly Tuthill at 718.940.5572 or e-mail ktuthill@sjcny.edu.