FOUNDATIONS SUPPORT RISD STUDENTS RISD students are benefiting from a strong fundraising year in Corporate and Foundation Relations, highlighted by three endowed scholarships. In July 2009 the Lenore G. Tawney Foundation endowed a $50,000 merit-based scholarship for graduate students in Textiles. The fund is named in honor of Lenore Tawney (1907–2007), an American fiber artist who pioneered the development of woven sculpture as an art medium. In June 2010 The Tiffany & Co. Foundation added $150,000 to its endowed scholarship fund, enabling RISD to award two scholarships concurrently to undergraduate or graduate students majoring in Jewelry + Metalsmithing. In addition, thanks to the generosity of RISD’s Board of Trustees in meeting a $50,000 challenge grant from the
George I. Alden Trust, the match raised $100,000 for RISD’s general endowed scholarship fund. “These grants are a wonderful tribute to RISD,” says Pamela Harrington, director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. “These foundations truly appreciate the unique attributes of a RISD education and the artistic achievements of our alumni. They also
understand the important role art and design play in our culture and in our economy.” Harrington also points out the benefits of a term scholarship from the Target Foundation, as well as two grants for graduates in the crucial year following graduation: one from The Toby Fund for unrestricted support and one from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Trust
for travel abroad. The Gelman Student Exhibitions Gallery in the Chace Center was built with funding from the Gelman Trust, which also supports scholarships for RISD graduate students in Painting and Sculpture. In all, foundations contributed more than $1.2 million in support of RISD students and academic programs in fiscal year 2009–10.
top & middle right: photos by John Supancic | middle left: photo by Erik Gould
At the annual RISD Scholarship Luncheon, students have an opportunity to thank the individuals and foundation representatives who help with financial aid. Donor Kathleen Fischer [above center] enjoyed talking with Peter Pa 11 FAV [to her left] and Caleb Wood 11 FAV. The recipient of this year’s Tiffany & Co. Foundation scholarship, Toby Milgrim 10 JM, created the necklace shown to the far left. Other scholarship recipients at the luncheon include Orissa Jenkins 12 IL, Alex Kalil 13 FAV, David Harris 13 ID and Emma Altman 13 AP.
Solid Results RISD raised more than $2.6 million in new scholarship gifts and pledges during its 2009–10 fund drive, which ended on June 30. “President Maeda identified scholarships as RISD’s top priority this past year, and RISD alumni, parents and friends rose to the challenge, helping us exceed our announced goal by more than $1 million,” says Director of Leadership Giving Louise Olson. In addition to the successes noted above in Corporate and Foundation Relations, the Annual Fund raised $1 million from 3,688 donors and nearly $500,000 came in through gift planning. “Despite a less-than-robust economy, RISD enjoyed a solid fundraising year,” says Olson. “That says a lot about our alumni, parents and friends, whose gifts help students realize their full potential as creative leaders.” For more on giving to RISD, go to risd.edu/give.
Fall 2010
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