ADVANCEMENT NEWS Winthrop Experiences Milestone Philanthropy

Donors gave $6.5 million to Winthrop in 2019, marking the second-highest amount ever raised in fundraising history. The total includes contributions made primarily to support the Winthrop Endowment, which will provide necessary investment capital and funding to move forward on key Winthrop Plan initiatives. Since the plan’s inception, Winthrop has observed growth in the Foundation’s endowment program surpassing $60 million in endowed assets. During 2019, there was a 22.34 percent gross investment return on the foundation’s investment pool, which has the potential to meet a $100 million stretch target in five years.

Other fundraising highlights include 16 new individuals and families welcomed into the D.B. Johnson Society and a gain of $400,777 in unrestricted gifts to the Winthrop Fund.

SPRING 2020

Winthrop Creates Fund to Assist Students Affected By COVID-19 Crisis

With the needs of Winthrop students changing rapidly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university has created the Student Emergency & Assistance Fund to help students who are faced with difficulties during this unique time.

Many students are dealing with unexpected financial hardships and have been adversely affected by the campus closure and the transition to remote learning. Now there is an even greater need for students juggling issues with housing and moving expenses, food insecurities, transportation, resources required for remote learning, and other related basic needs.

Many members of the Winthrop community had expressed interest in how they can provide support to students. This newly created fund will quickly provide the financial resources to students in crisis.

Thank You for These Gifts and Pledges of $25,000 or More:

• E. Neal Powell and Betty G. Powell ’78 established the Agnes Boyce Powell Music Award to honor Neal’s mother, a 1948 alumna.

• The Ish Smith Family Foundation contributed funds to perform facility enhancement for men’s basketball at the Winthrop Coliseum.

• Dorothy Kirkpatrick ’59 expanded her giving to include bequest intention that will also benefit the Winthrop Endowment.

• Casey Ferri ’09 and Eric Ferri ’07 included the Winthrop Endowment into their giving. They also support the Eagle Club and the Winthrop Fund.

• Judith Fincher ’67 will honor a former professor of philosophy and religion with a gift to establish the Nolan P. Jacobson Endowed Lecture Series.

• Tonya and Michael Thompson chose to honor Tonya’s sister, the late Betty Weeks Still ’66, by establishing a scholarship in Betty’s name that benefits students from Lancaster County studying education.

• Karen Kedrowski, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, created the Kedrowski-Fitzgerald Family Scholarship to benefit students majoring in political science or chemistry.

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For more information on giving, or to make a gift, please call the Division of University Advancement at 803/323-2275, toll-free at 800/801-1083 or visit www.winthrop.edu/give.

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Faculty Endowments Back Student Scholarships

The bond between faculty and students has long been recognized as one of the hallmarks of the Winthrop experience. Several recent endowments created by faculty or by alumni in their honor demonstrates the strong commitment faculty have for Winthrop students. Recent endowments include:

The Tom and Kathe Rice Stanley Scholarship will be awarded to a senior fine arts student from South Carolina. The Dr. Danne Kasparek and Dr. Gene Kasparek Scholarship will be awarded to a student demonstrating financial need. The Donald M. Rogers Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a full-time graduate student studying music. The Thacker Computer Sciences Scholarship will be awarded to a student majoring in computer science.

Please consider giving, if you have the desire and are able, any monetary level of support to the fund.

ADVANCEMENT NEWS

For questions about the Student Emergency & Assistance Fund or to give to the fund, call 803/323-2275 or visit justgiving.com/campaign/ winthropstrong.