PURE PHILANTHROPY

Barry Students Inspire Generosity

Peopleand organizations choose to support Barry for various reasons. I’ve noticed a growing trend that warms my heart — many are acting to ensure that access to education is not determined by a student’s financial situation. Donors are giving to help students, without recognition for themselves.

Sister Jeanne O’Laughlin, Barry president from 1981 to 2004, was a champion of making education available to all. Known for her compassion and perseverance, her influence is reflected in several gifts received over the last fiscal year.

While serving as the first woman on the Orange Bowl Committee, Sister Jeanne befriended Trish and Dan Bell. Friends of Barry for 40-plus years, the Bells created a scholarship in her honor and recently endowed it to celebrate her spirit in perpetuity.

Sister Jeanne also embodied the best in Catholic education, a field admired by Linda and Luis Perez. Linda worked through college, and she knows many Barry students also face financial challenges. The Perezes have made a meaningful impact through scholarships.

Barry’s School of Podiatric Medicine began under Sister Jeanne, and it has always had a relationship with the Podiatry Insurance Company of America. PICA and its president, Ross Taubman, DPM, funded a scholarship to help alleviate debt and allow podiatry residents to focus on patient care.

The Garner Foundation has supported a variety of Barry students for decades. Today, Board of Trustees member Kimberly Topping Morris carries on her great-grandfather James Garner’s connection with the University. Meanwhile, Alumni Board member Avon King ’05 represents a new generation of supporters as he volunteers, mentors and gives back.

I hope these stories inspire you, and that you will take pride in all the ways you, too, are helping make Barry stronger.

Best Wishes,

Bernadine Douglas, CFRE Vice President for Institutional Advancement

The University closed out fiscal year 2022 with an endowment of $50 million, which included $35.1M of financial investments, $13.8M of real estate investments and $1.1M in our student managed investment fund. Even with the market challenges during fiscal year 2022, the University stayed within its investment policy statement goals, did not need to utilize any unrestricted endowment to meet the University operating needs and continued to manage a portfolio that is well balanced and invested with a long-term perspective. The University’s portfolio managers maintain the highest level of fiscal responsibility and oversight and are true partners in ensuring the long-term management and growth of the endowment portfolio. We are also very proud of our student managed investment fund team, which continues to make smart investment decisions and provide returns that beat many market professionals. We are confident that our endowed scholarships are well positioned to provide support to our students for a very long time.