Giving Stories

Mary Fredman Downing ’59 and Glenn Downing spoke during a bench dedication November 2, 2011, at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to give a building or anything like that to Mary Washington unless, of course, I won the lottery,” Mary said. “So, Glenn and I thought this bench would be the perfect way to give back to the place we both love so much while also recognizing the Class of 1959.”

Several friends and members of the Class of 1959 joined the couple in the Mayo Courtyard at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center for the unveiling of the bench plaque.

The couple made a gift to Mary Washington to endow the bench, and they then worked with the Office of University Advancement to select the bench location and to approve the wording on the plaque.

 

J. Michael Schweder, president of AT&T Mid Atlantic, visited campus to present a $25,000 check for establishment of the AT&T Student Leadership Colloquium. As part of the UMW Center for Honor, Leadership, and Service, the new AT&T Student Leadership Colloquium will provide a robust series of classroom and experiential learning opportunities to accelerate students’ personal growth and their leadership abilities. Overall, the program will help enrich the UMW experience and reinforce and sustain the Honor Code as a way of life on the UMW campus and in the lives of our students after they graduate.