COA Magazine: Vol 1. No 1. Winter 2005

industrial ecology. To further that aim, in 2004 the Peggy Sharpe recalls walking in the woods with Sharpes created a one-million-dollar endowment, Henry on an early date. ”One of the first gifts he the Fund for Organizational Stewardship. It will gave me was a tender little oak leaf, partially begin by bringing speakers to campus and eventuunfurled and very beautiful. He was involved in ally be used to provide teachers to train and the industrial world but I don’t think we would inspire students to think creatively about environhave married each other if there hadn’t been some mental solutions to real-world industrial probdeep understanding and appreciation for such lems. natural things.”

In small part, the endowment will also be used Though they lived in Rhode Island, where to help the college achieve its own environmental Henry Sharpe had followed his father as head goals, established when COA became the first colof the family machine tool company, their summer lege member of the Maine Department of experiences as children nourished a deep and Environmental Protection’s Smart Tracks for abiding love for the natural world. Appreciation Exceptional Performers and led to involvement as concerns “It’s chastening, this late in Upward Performers, or STEP-UP, about the environment began Program. emerging. the game, to think that not But the emphasis is on increasPeggy Sharpe served on the only should our generation ing opportunities for students. national board of governors of As Henry Sharpe says, “We’ve The Nature Conservancy and was have been more responsible sought to have the most imporone of the founding members of stewards, but that we also, tant aspect of the program focus the Rhode Island chapter board. perhaps, missed great on teaching young people who She also worked closely with want to work in business or groups such as the Conservation opportunities by which we industry to do so in an ecologiLaw Foundation to find environmight conceivably have cally satisfactory manner—and mentally sustainable solutions to make more money doing it!” regional problems. In recognibeen able to gain profit!”

“It’s neither economics, nor tion of her efforts, she received ecology,” adds Peggy Sharpe, “but a Lifetime Achievement Award ~ Henry Sharpe both together.” from the Environmental ProtecThe Sharpes have also pledged an additional tion Agency last spring. $250,000 to the college to help round out the Henry Sharpe’s environmental involvement $1,500,000 cost of the program, provided it can be came later. Toward the end of his industrial career, matched by other donors by the end of 2006. “I and especially after becoming a COA trustee in know there’s a lot involved in getting from here to 1992, he came to focus on how few people were there,” says Henry Sharpe, “but I think it can help asking the right questions about industry’s part in the college attract promising young students environmental degradation. “I began wanting to along with a certain class of corporate supporters know how people can operate businesses in an who might be seeking ways to help their own ecologically satisfactory manner and make more organizations achieve sustainability. Putting these money doing so,” he says. “It’s not about making thoughts together makes a win-win situation for business sacrifices. It’s chastening, this late in the the whole world.” game, to think that not only should our generation The Sharpe grant was announced on Earth Day have been more responsible stewards, but that we 2004, as COA achieved one of its own major STEPalso, perhaps, missed great opportunities by UP goals: signing a contract to have all its electricwhich we might conceivably have been able to ity supplied by new, renewable, wind energy. gain profit!”

“Maybe it’s a sign of things to come,” the At COA, the couple began encouraging creative Sharpes add as they take a moment together to environmental leadership in business and indusappreciate the busy crickets, singing on a late try, urging the college to consider increasing its summer morning in Maine. curricular emphasis on what Henry Sharpe calls COA | 13