The Fund for Sarah Lawrence: Fostering Independent Thinkers

The Fund for Sarah Lawrence helps foster independent thinkers who embrace diverse perspectives. Sarah Lawrence College is known for producing graduates who are equally adept at thinking for themselves and maintaining an abiding respect for others. SLC students engage deeply in studies that examine different points of view and then express the intellectual breakthroughs that follow in papers, poems, problem sets, and performances. This spirited academic dialogue—one of the reasons we graduates go on to effect such tremendous changes in the larger world—depends on our contributions to The Fund for Sarah Lawrence.

Our generosity keeps the Sarah Lawrence community vital and eclectic. The College has always honored the belief that tremendous potential doesn’t necessarily equate with significant financial resources—a principle illustrated by the fact that the majority of SLC students now receive some form of financial aid. A significant portion of those funds come from alumnae/i who want to ensure that the College’s vigorous intellectual dialogue—a hallmark of the Sarah Lawrence experience—continues to be enriched by the voices of students from across the socioeconomic spectrum.

In these challenging times, your continued generosity is greatly appreciated. Many of my most powerful memories of Sarah Lawrence involve the mastery of challenges I faced, from changing dons during my second semester to working out the academic requirements for my year abroad in Nigeria. The current recession has created a formidable economic challenge for the College, and for many of its students and their families. As a leadership donor, your annual gift significantly strengthens the College’s ability to provide students with a transformative education. Your increased support this year will allow the current generation of Sarah Lawrence students to remain focused on their academic pursuits by helping them ease the financial burdens associated with paying for their education.

The contribution you make to the Fund this year, and every year, affirms your belief in the value of a Sarah Lawrence education. As president of the Alumnae/i Association, I’m reminded daily of the amazing contributions that we graduates make to culture, the sciences, the professions, and the public sphere. During my student days at Sarah Lawrence, I benefited from the generosity of other graduates who invested in my success through their gifts to the financial aid program. Your donation to The Fund for Sarah Lawrence—this year more than ever—plays a critical role in giving students the support they need to engage fully in the Sarah Lawrence experience, and to establish a foundation for their lifelong fulfillment and success. On behalf of the College, please accept my personal thanks for your past contributions and your ongoing support.

Rona Carr ’74
President, Alumnae/i Association