F&M Stories
F&M Women & Philanthropy Event Celebrates Success, Honors Charter Members
More than 80 Franklin & Marshall alumnae, parents and friends, many of them charter members of F&M Women & Philanthropy, gathered at Bloomberg Philanthropies in New York City June 4 to commemorate the initiative’s progress and to build community among the College’s women leaders.
Patti Harris ’77, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies, a charter member of F&M Women & Philanthropy and host of the event, noted the group’s powerful show of support for philanthropy in her welcome.
“Women are tackling some of the biggest challenges… that we're facing today, and our impact only continues to grow,” said Harris.
Later, Kathy Quick Rosa ’92, P’25, said F&M women celebrate and inspire each other to be one of the most powerful driving forces behind Franklin & Marshall philanthropic support.
“Women define their own relationship with philanthropy…we give generously, and this is what President Altmann would call an ampersand moment, we give thoughtfully, considering the impact of everything we do," said Rosa.
The F&M Women & Philanthropy initiative began in 2023 as part of a larger effort to honor the 50th anniversary of the women in the Class of 1973’s graduation from Franklin & Marshall. These trailblazers represented the first cohort of full-time undergraduate women and signaled an evolution in the composition and future of the F&M community. F&M Women & Philanthropy challenged 50 members of the College community who identify as women to make a gift of $50,000 or more in support of the Franklin & Marshall Fund and other important philanthropic priorities.
“Women define their own relationship with philanthropy…we give generously, and this
is what President Altmann would call an ampersand moment, we give thoughtfully, considering
the impact of everything we do.”
- Kathy Quick Rosa ’92, P’25
Rosa and Kathy Hay Stine ’85, Franklin & Marshall College Trustees and the co-chairs of F&M Women & Philanthropy, have built momentum for more than two years. Together with honorary co-chairs Susan Klehr ’73, P’12 and Sue Washburn ’73, they connected with friends, alumnae and parents of former and current students in the course of their outreach — yielding dividends more valuable than just the funds raised.
“One of the unexpected joys I've experienced [as co-chair of F&M Women & Philanthropy] was developing friendships and making connections with women I didn't know when I was a student or whose path didn't cross mine because we were from such different class years,” said Stine during her remarks. “I've met some tremendous leaders. F&M has many exceptional women to celebrate.”
President Barbara K. Altmann, the College's 16th and first woman president, spoke to the visible impact that philanthropic support has for F&M students. Altmann, herself a charter member of F&M Women & Philanthropy, emphasized why now is the time for women to embrace their roles as leaders, both at F&M and in their communities.
“The impact of your philanthropy — it is always obvious, and it is always necessary, and it always improves us,” said Altmann. “This is a particularly important moment for women's leadership...we need you. We need you as advocates; we need you as champions. We need you as artists; we need you as scientists. We need you as community builders; and we need you holding up the women who are coming behind you because it is a difficult world.”
A panel discussion preceded the recognition ceremony to honor the charter members. Moderated by President Altmann, the panelists included Karen Holmes Stevenson, M.D. ’80, an internal medicine specialist who recently retired after 35 years in practice; Heidi Hoffman Mooney ’91, a partner at ON Partners and a member of F&M’s Leadership Council; and Sunita Gupta Kramer, Ph.D. ’92, a researcher, scholar and F&M’s next provost and dean of the faculty. The group discussed how they define leadership; how philanthropy has had a meaningful impact on their careers and in their own lives; what it means to establish a legacy; and how their own F&M experiences, past and present, have shaped their lives and perspectives as leaders.
As Rosa and Stine began the recognition ceremony, they took a moment to honor two of F&M’s most impactful philanthropists who had recently passed: Ann Barshinger H'17, W'43 and trustee emerita Patricia Weis P’85. Following a moment of gratitude, Rosa reminded the group that, “It’s our responsibility to honor the memories of the women who inspired and supported us and to create our own legacy for the generations to follow.”
F&M Women & Philanthropy continues to invite F&M women to make gifts in honor of women who shaped their lives — faculty mentors, coaches, friends, family members and other alums. A series of regional events are in development, to be announced this fall.
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