F&M Stories
F&M Women & Philanthropy Event Celebrates Success, Honors Charter Members
More than 80 Franklin & Marshall alumnae, parents and friends, many of them charter members of F&M Women & Philanthropy, gathered at Bloomberg Philanthropies in New York City June 4 to commemorate the initiative鈥檚 progress and to build community among the College鈥檚 women leaders.
Patti Harris 鈥77, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies, a charter member of F&M Women & Philanthropy and host of the event, noted the group鈥檚 powerful show of support for philanthropy in her welcome.
鈥淲omen are tackling some of the biggest challenges鈥 that we're facing today, and our impact only continues to grow,鈥 said Harris.
Later, Kathy Quick Rosa 鈥92, P鈥25, said F&M women celebrate and inspire each other to be one of the most powerful driving forces behind Franklin & Marshall philanthropic support.
鈥淲omen define their own relationship with philanthropy鈥e give generously, and this is what President Altmann would call an ampersand moment, we give thoughtfully, considering the impact of everything we do," said Rosa.
The F&M Women & Philanthropy initiative began in 2023 as part of a larger effort to honor the 50th anniversary of the women in the Class of 1973鈥檚 graduation from Franklin & Marshall. These trailblazers represented the first cohort of full-time undergraduate women and signaled an evolution in the composition and future of the F&M community. F&M Women & Philanthropy challenged 50 members of the College community who identify as women to make a gift of $50,000 or more in support of the Franklin & Marshall Fund and other important philanthropic priorities.
鈥淲omen define their own relationship with philanthropy鈥e give generously, and this
is what President Altmann would call an ampersand moment, we give thoughtfully, considering
the impact of everything we do.鈥
- Kathy Quick Rosa 鈥92, P鈥25
Rosa and Kathy Hay Stine 鈥85, Franklin & 四虎影院 Trustees and the co-chairs of F&M Women & Philanthropy, have built momentum for more than two years. Together with honorary co-chairs Susan Klehr 鈥73, P鈥12 and Sue Washburn 鈥73, they connected with friends, alumnae and parents of former and current students in the course of their outreach 鈥 yielding dividends more valuable than just the funds raised.
鈥淥ne of the unexpected joys I've experienced [as co-chair of F&M Women & Philanthropy] was developing friendships and making connections with women I didn't know when I was a student or whose path didn't cross mine because we were from such different class years,鈥 said Stine during her remarks. 鈥淚've met some tremendous leaders. F&M has many exceptional women to celebrate.鈥
President Barbara K. Altmann, the College's 16th and first woman president, spoke to the visible impact that philanthropic support has for F&M students. Altmann, herself a charter member of F&M Women & Philanthropy, emphasized why now is the time for women to embrace their roles as leaders, both at F&M and in their communities.
鈥淭he impact of your philanthropy 鈥 it is always obvious, and it is always necessary, and it always improves us,鈥 said Altmann. 鈥淭his is a particularly important moment for women's leadership...we need you. We need you as advocates; we need you as champions. We need you as artists; we need you as scientists. We need you as community builders; and we need you holding up the women who are coming behind you because it is a difficult world.鈥
A panel discussion preceded the recognition ceremony to honor the charter members. Moderated by President Altmann, the panelists included Karen Holmes Stevenson, M.D. 鈥80, an internal medicine specialist who recently retired after 35 years in practice; Heidi Hoffman Mooney 鈥91, a partner at ON Partners and a member of F&M鈥檚 Leadership Council; and Sunita Gupta Kramer, Ph.D. 鈥92, a researcher, scholar and F&M鈥檚 next provost and dean of the faculty. The group discussed how they define leadership; how philanthropy has had a meaningful impact on their careers and in their own lives; what it means to establish a legacy; and how their own F&M experiences, past and present, have shaped their lives and perspectives as leaders.
As Rosa and Stine began the recognition ceremony, they took a moment to honor two of F&M鈥檚 most impactful philanthropists who had recently passed: Ann Barshinger H'17, W'43 and trustee emerita Patricia Weis P鈥85. Following a moment of gratitude, Rosa reminded the group that, 鈥淚t鈥檚 our responsibility to honor the memories of the women who inspired and supported us and to create our own legacy for the generations to follow.鈥
F&M Women & Philanthropy continues to invite F&M women to make gifts in honor of women who shaped their lives 鈥 faculty mentors, coaches, friends, family members and other alums. A series of regional events are in development, to be announced this fall.
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