New Women’s Philanthropy Initiative Supports Student Growth

The new Women’s Philanthropy Initiative connects generations of women who make a difference in the world by investing in people and projects of the University of Findlay.

Initiative members join together to support University students, faculty, and staff by providing unique networking opportunities, career insight, and even scholarships. Not only does the Initiative provide support, it also encourages the entrepreneurial spirit of students by providing a platform for students to propose academically based projects for which they could potentially receive funding.

Founded in the fall of 2020, the launch of the Initiative was co-chaired by Kathy Jebbett and Dina Ostrander, and thoroughly supported by University President Katherine Fell, Ph.D. The group includes members from Ohio, New York, Missouri, Georgia, and more. With diverse backgrounds and a shared purpose, a wide variety of ages, personal interests, and life stories are represented, which opens opportunities for members to meet women from a breadth of experiences.

“I think it’s very important for women to be involved in education and philanthropy,” Jebbett stated. “What I like about this program specifically is that all of the money is used at the University and directly impacts the students.” Jebbett continued to say, “I think this is a great way to interact with students and other women who are interested in philanthropy. It’s a neat initiative for the University and the City of Findlay.”

This philanthropic group is unique as members are able to actively engage with students and be directly involved with the decisions made by the group. “We are so excited about the launch and initial funding cycle of the UF Women’s Philanthropy Initiative,” said Marcia Sloan Latta, Ed.D., vice president of university advancement. “We can already see that this initiative will be a positive force for a number of special initiatives at UF, and also a great way for members to network and be great mentors to our students.”

For the first funding cycle, the Women’s Philanthropy Initiative has selected four projects to focus their efforts on:

• Launch the College of Education Scholars Program: This program will be modeled after the Dana Scholars program in the College of Business, where a distinguished educational leader in the community will teach the course. The course will be offered each fall and will be offered to 10 junior or senior students, chosen by the faculty from a pool of qualified applicants.
• Purchasing a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system for the College of Sciences: The purchase of a new HPLC will support the development of Chemistry and Forensic Biology majors, faculty research, and could allow for the development of collaborative work with area industry partners.
• Purchasing simulation scenarios for clinical training in the Nursing department: The Department of Nursing will be able to purchase 38 nursing simulation scenarios that will help enhance lab and clinical training which incorporate the cognitive, motor, and critical thinking skills necessary for students to provide quality care.
• Creating an endowed scholarship for current and potential University students: Scholarships are essential to providing students opportunities to which they wouldn’t otherwise have access. The endowment would provide a scholarship in support of female students who excel in leadership, entrepreneurship, and business.

The University of Findlay’s Women’s Philanthropy Initiative is extending a hand to women across the country who would like to make a difference in the lives of Findlay students. Those interested in learning more about the Initiative are encouraged to contact the Office of University Advancement at universityadvancement@findlay.edu or 419-434-5184.