Gifts to Smith Honor Inspiring Women

Smith’s celebration of National Philanthropy Day on November 15 was a record day of gifts to the college—many in honor of inspiring women.

Maria Held, director of The Smith Fund, said 1,911 Smith alumnae, parents and friends made gifts totaling $1,033,625 to Smith through the Smith Fund on November 15. It was the first time that the college had ever received more than $1 million in cumulative gifts in a single day.

Held said that more than 100 donors—more than 5 percent of the total—made gifts inspired by November’s election. Among the designations:

• “In honor of our political future”
• “In honor of the first female president, whoever she may be”
• “In honor of my daughter, who I hope will one day get a chance to see a woman break the highest glass ceiling”

Other donors made gifts honoring a favorite Smith professor. One honored Cynthia Taft Morris, the Clark Professor Emerita of Economics, who died in 2013. Another honored economics professor Mahnaz Madavi, “who has given me a lot of support.”

And many donors looked toward the future, designating gifts:

• “In honor of Powerful Smith Women Leaders”
• “In honor of all Smithies, because there is still so much work to be done”

On behalf of the college, Held said she was thankful for the outpouring of support. “The Smith community once again rallied to show its commitment to our students and women’s education,” she said. “We are so proud and grateful.”