Anonymous Donor Contributes $75,000 to Three Winthrop Funds

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — An anonymous $75,000 gift will boost financial support for Winthrop students by endowing one existing fund and providing substantial contributions to two additional existing funds.

This gift will provide $25,000 to both the Historical Preservation Fund, which assists with acquisition, preservation and accessibility of historically significant materials in Winthrop's Louise Pettus Archives & Special Collections, and the Student Veterans Annual Restricted Fund, which supports the Student Veterans of Winthrop on-campus organization.

An additional $25,000 contribution to the Debbie Garrick Leaders' Scholarship will endow the existing fund. Established by John P. "Jay" Dowd III '89, the award honors Debbie Garrick '87, '89, Winthrop's former associate vice president for development and alumni relations. The fund provides financial assistance to upperclassmen campus leaders.

The gift is the most recent in a string of generous gifts to the university. President Dan Mahony emphasized the need to create a thriving culture of philanthropy at Winthrop, and made fundraising a key priority in his recently unveiled strategic plan. Mahony noted that the anonymous contribution represents "a key investment in Winthrop and our students."

"It is gratifying to see generous donors recognize the importance of how scholarship dollars support the needs of Winthrop students. We are deeply appreciative of this donor's selfless gift as it will touch many areas of the university," said Mahony.

The donor, a Columbia, South Carolina, resident, has strong family ties to Winthrop. She said that she made the gift "because I care deeply about preserving history and supporting our veterans and Winthrop student leaders."

She continues to be an avid supporter of the Archives' mission to collect and preserve South Carolina history.

For more information, contact Meredith Carter, communications coordinator, at 803/323-2236 or carterm@winthrop.edu.