I am delighted to welcome you to join us as we celebrate the culmination of Ahead of the Curve: The Campaign for Sarah Lawrence. The success of this ambitious $200 million campaign—a historic milestone for the College—reflects the generosity and confidence of the many donors who have invested in the future of this singular institution of higher learning. Alumni gifts, which accounted for 83 percent of the funds received for the Campaign, reflect the abiding belief in the College by those who have benefited from its education.
The critical support provided by this campaign will ensure that Sarah Lawrence maintains its forward momentum; that we continue to attract and retain talented, creative, intellectually curious students; and that we provide them with an unparalleled educational experience led by our dedicated and unrivaled faculty. The support of our donors makes it possible for students to connect their passions and create their futures, and it makes it possible to offer the Sarah Lawrence education—an education that develops the global leaders of tomorrow—to students of all means and backgrounds.
Karen R. Lawrence, the 10th president of the College, launched The Campaign for Sarah Lawrence with a compelling vision of a future that strengthened Sarah Lawrence and its community. The Campaign drew national attention in February 2015, when alumna and legendary broadcast journalist Barbara Walters made a $15 million gift—the largest single donation in the College’s history.
That transformative lead gift was a catalyst for the donor-funded, $35 million Barbara Walters Campus Center. Completed on time and on budget less than two years after breaking ground, this striking, multifunctional, fully accessible, sustainably constructed building is the cornerstone of our vision for the future. A new “front door” to the campus, the Center is the physical manifestation of the Campaign’s goal to enhance and improve our living and learning environment, and it fulfills a long overdue need for a cultural, social, and intellectual hub for campus and community interaction.
On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of Sarah Lawrence, I extend heartfelt thanks to all who donated to this critically important campaign. I also want to gratefully acknowledge the leadership of our campaign co-chairs, John A. Hill and Nancie Cooper MFA ’04, along with the dedicated members of the Campaign Steering Committee and all who supported their work.
Yours,
Cristle Colins Judd
President
