Mills Matters Hefty support for Mills projects rolls in Mills College gratefully acknowledges
Catherine Coates ’65 offered funds to
The Stuart Foundation made a sig-
the following members of the com-
support Mills’ Greatest Need as well, and
nificant donation to Lead by Learning—
munity for their gifts, grants, and
has additionally donated to the upcom-
previously known as the Mills Teacher
pledges of $50,000 or more, received
ing Mills Institute. Building on the legacy
Scholars Program—which will enable
between July 1 and December 31, 2021.
of Mills College, the Mills Institute strives
the School of Education to train and
to meet changing educational needs in
prepare the next generation of teach-
ously to multiple funds, first supporting
higher education, committing especially
ers. The Yellow Chair Foundation also
the Summer and J-Term courses, which
to social justice and the advancement of
renewed its support for the program by
offer educational support to current
marginalized communities.
pledging a gift.
An anonymous donor gave gener-
students, alums, and the general public.
Barbara Wolfe ’65 and former trustee
Through the bequest of the late Emily
They also gave to the Student Hardship
Richard Barrett both graciously con-
Bourne Grigsby ’44, funds were given to
Fund to assist students experiencing
tributed to the Campus Optimization
the Lisser Hall renovation project to help
financial issues due to COVID-19, and
Project, an ongoing initiative dedicated
with maintenance of and general costs
to Mills’ Greatest Need, another fund
to making Mills economically and
for the revitalized building.
that underwrites unexpected costs for
environmentally sustainable through
the campus.
strategic partnerships.
Alumnae of Color scholarship hits milestone As of this February, the Alumnae of Color Endowed
in honor of President Emerita Alecia A. DeCoudreaux, the first
Scholarship in Honor of Alecia A. DeCoudreaux has reached a
African American president of Mills College. In the following
landmark $250,000, with the help of more than 200 donations
years, the committee embarked on fundraising efforts that
from the Mills community and beyond. In total, the scholar-
have included campus concerts, online campaigns, and con-
ship has raised $253,750, with $4,158 just this fiscal year.
tributions from private foundations. So far, the scholarship
Created in 2011 to support students of color, the fund was endowed in 2015 by the Alumnae of Color Committee (AOCC)
has been awarded to 12 students since 2012. In a recent email sent to fund donors, members of the AOCC—Lynette Castille-Hall ’75; Myila Granberry ’05; Estrellita Hudson Redus ’65, MFA ’75; Micheline Beam ’72; and Connie Swan-Davidson ’73—celebrated the achievement: “We plan for our scholarship to continue for generations to come,” they wrote. “As Mills celebrates its 170th anniversary, and prepares to enter a merger with Northeastern University, we are excited to continue to lend our support to all students of color in President DeCoudreaux’s honor.”
“Receiving this scholarship made me feel like people are taking notice and are proud of having me in their community.” —Tagira Alvarenga ’22 President Emerita Alecia DeCoudreaux (center) with two recipients of the Alumnae of Color Endowed Scholarship in her honor: the late Sharon Robinson ’14, MPP ’15 (left); and Bryana Jones ’17 (right). 8
M I L L S Q U A R T E R LY
