The ŷ��AV Fund

Giving
The ŷ��AV Fund

The ŷ��AV Fund

Your gift to The ŷ��AV Fund has a direct effect on every aspect of campus life — providing funds to recruit and retain the best faculty, financially supporting our students, updating state-of-the-art learning environments and keeping ŷ��AV’s 800-acre campus beautiful. Making an annual gift truly supports the College’s highest priorities.

FUNd the future of ŷ��AV!

A ŷ��AV education empowers and transforms. Our rigorous liberal arts curriculum helps students understand the complexities and beauties of the world and prepares them for career success. We are graduating leaders who are having a profound positive impact in their communities and around the world.

As the College embarks on a new chapter in our history, it is up to each one of us to ensure that “ŷ��AV forever shall be” — now and into the future.

Every alum. Every year. Stronger together.

Uncommon Pursuits

ŷ��AV has inspired bold leaders and boundless learners for 187 years, and our MHC Forward Strategic Plan maps out an audacious vision for MHC’s next decade and beyond. See the answers to our trivia questions below to learn the many ways you can have an impact and help students prepare for lives of purposeful leadership in a culturally diverse world.

Download a printable version of our game and the solution:
Test your trivia Download the solution

You can make your gift using the button below.

The ŷ��AV Fund by the numbers

$2.91 M

Raised in FY25 as of November 30, 2024

The ŷ��AV Fund goal for the 2024-2025 fiscal year is $8.91M.

5.6%

FY25 alum participation as of November 30, 2024

Our participation goal for the 2024–2025 fiscal year is 28%.

1,970

donors in FY25 as of November 30, 2024

Our goal for the 2024–2025 fiscal year is 10,000 donors.

20+

Ways to direct your gift

Choose one of the destinations through The ŷ��AV Fund to make a difference where it matters most to you.

700+

Each year alums volunteer to help support the College by engaging with classmates, sharing exciting news and educating them on the importance of giving.

minimum for sustaining gifts

Your small gifts can have a big impact when you become a sustaining donor. Sustaining gifts are automatically debited from your credit card each month and renewed at the beginning of each fiscal year (July 1).

ŷ��AV Fund Volunteers

More than 750 alums from all class years volunteer their time and talents to support The ŷ��AV Fund. Their hard work, dedication, and love for their alma mater makes it possible for new generations of ŷ��AV students to continue Mary Lyon's legacy.

The is a resource that provides up to date information that volunteers need to do their work, including current giving, recent giving history and contact details

Head Class Agent

Head Class Agents (HCA) are a vital part of class leadership, responsible for sharing the message about the importance of annual giving to MHC through The ŷ��AV Fund. Working with a team of volunteer Class Agents, HCAs coordinate the class-based giving efforts that raise a cumulative total of over $8M per year for ŷ��AV.

Cornerstone Chair

Cornerstone Chairs (CSC) work closely with the Head Class Agents (HCAs) throughout the five-year reunion cycle to develop a strategic plan for raising Cornerstone gifts of $1,837 or more from classmates. Leadership gifts make up approximately 75% of The ŷ��AV Fund.

Class Agent

Stay connected to the ŷ��AV community and make a meaningful — and immediate — impact on ŷ��AV's mission.

Laurel Chain Society Chair

Laurel Chain Society Chairs work closely with Head Class Agents to encourage consistent giving to The ŷ��AV Fund. They recognize and steward consistent donors — and identify and connect with potential Laurel Chain Society members.

Social Media Ambassador

Social Media Ambassadors use social media (such as class groups on Facebook) to share content related to the College, their class and The ŷ��AV Fund. This outreach is particularly important during key fundraising times, such as challenges and the end of the fiscal year.

50th Reunion Leadership Gift Committee Member

Each 50th Reunion cycle class recruits a 50th Reunion Leadership Gift Committee. It is tasked with peer-to-peer outreach and solicitation of classmates who have the potential to make a significant gift to The ŷ��AV Fund.

Term length: two to four years

Mary Lyon Society Class Chair

The Mary Lyon Society (MLS) Class Chair helps to promote the Mary Lyon Society by working with the gift planning staff to share information about the Mary Lyon Society with classmates, serve as a liaison between the class and the office of gift planning, write a thank you note to welcome new MLS members in the class and report the number of MLS members and the five year impact of the MLS on the class totals at Reunion.

The ŷ��AV Fund Committee

ŷ��AV Fund Committee members work with staff in The ŷ��AV Fund to support the volunteer program and help achieve annual fundraising goals. Alums from all decades serve on the committee.

Term length: two years

ŷ��AV Fund Committee Co-Chairs

Leslie Green ’94
Tarana Bhatia ’15

National Cornerstone Society Chair

Carly Basile ’16
Yvonne Gibney ’80

ŷ��AV Fund Committee Members

Janice Albert ’82
Elizabeth Cook Babbin ’96
Elizabeth Bauer ’59
Danetta Beaushaw ’88
Alanna Boyd ’98
Ukwori Ejibe ’09
Jessica Fajardo ’12
Connie Farmer ’67
Cara Murphy ’14
Nazeela Nasseri ’12
Anna Robertson ’04
Nancy Rosoff ’78
Donna Rowe MHFP
Heather Stone ’93
Thanh Tran ’02
Melissa Vance ’84

The Beyond the 50th Reunion Committee

This committee works with staff in The ŷ��AV Fund to support the volunteer program and help achieve fundraising goals, with a special lens toward classes that have already marked their 50th Reunion.

Term length: two years

Beyond the 50th Committee Co-Chairs

Connie Griffin Farmer ’67
Susan C. Iverson ’68

Beyond the 50th Committee Members

Elizabeth W. Bauer ’59
Jacqueline E. Berkowitz ’65
Jane B. Bragg ’64
Lael Stevens Carter ’66
Eleanor T. Cicerchi ’66
Marcia L Coleman ’69
Mary Victor Giersch ’64
Elizabeth A. Kofron ’70
Andrea Lange ’71
Hannah H. MacLauren ’62
Joan M. Ripley ’55
JJ (Joyce) Spencer ’60
Margaret Hale Teaford ’67
Anne R. Wright ’67

Giving Societies

Giving Societies recognize the members of our community whose generosity ensures that “ŷ��AV forever shall be.”

Learn more about our giving societies

The Laurel Chain Society

Honors the loyalty of donors who make gifts to ŷ��AV (of any amount, to any fund) for three consecutive years, including a gift in the current fiscal year. Membership is retained by supporting the College each fiscal year.

The Cornerstone Society

Recognizes donors who make gifts of $1,837 or more to ŷ��AV for any purpose each year.

The Mary Lyon Society

Honors those who have named the College as a beneficiary of a will, trust, retirement plan or life insurance policy. It also honors those who have established a life income gift with the College.

Students smiling as they carry the Laurel Chain

Sustaining gifts

Regular gifts — over time — add up. Your small change can now have a big impact when you become a sustaining donor.

Sustaining gifts:

• are automatically debited from your credit card each month and renewed at the beginning of each fiscal year (July 1).

• reduce the number of appeals you receive and save the College valuable resources.

• maximize your support of ŷ��AV!

With a sustaining gift of starting at just $5 a month, your regular support will fuel future generations who are speaking up, breaking barriers and demanding positive change in the world. Sustain the chain. Become a sustaining donor today.

A student with arms raised after receiving their degree

ŷ��AV Fund Scholars Program

The ŷ��AV Fund Scholars Program is a unique opportunity for you to support need-based financial aid at the College. Your one-time gift of $10,000 or multiyear commitment of $5,000 for four or five years will establish a scholarship that will carry your name and class year (unless otherwise requested). MHF Scholar donors will receive a report in May or June with details about a student’s studies and activities.

Options for funding a ŷ��AV Fund Scholar:

A one-time annual gift of $10,000 or more.

A multiyear commitment of $5,000 per year for four to five years for a total contribution of $20,000–$25,000.

Please note that donors who make MHF Scholar gifts after March 31 will receive student information in May or June of the next academic year.

ŷ��AV Fund Scholars are active and engaged students and community members. We look forward to sharing their stories with you.

The class of 2024 gathered at Convocation 2023

The Senior Campaign

The Senior Campaign effort is led by the Head Class Agents who are elected their senior year, with support from the entire Class Board. (The Head Class Agents continue in their role through their two year reunion.)

Senior gifts — of any size — help support all the things that make MHC unique, including scholarships and financial aid, incredible faculty, beautiful campus, meaningful traditions, important diversity, equity and inclusion programming and invaluable internship and research opportunities. There are 20 different options for designating your gift, so you can choose the impact you have.

The class of 2006 marching in the 2019 Laurel Parade

Reunion Giving

Reunion is an ideal time to honor your ŷ��AV experience, pay tribute to your education and have a significant impact on current and future students who follow in your footsteps. Learn more about ways to honor your past and impact the future at this special time of celebration.

Giving

Reunion Giving

The ŷ��AV Fund team

The ŷ��AV Fund team works with donors and volunteers to support the College’s annual fund.

Director

Allison Butler ’05

Director of The ŷ��AV Fund

Staff

Perrin Bernard

Associate Director for the ŷ��AV Fund: 50th Reunions and Leadership Annual Giving

Karen Couture

ŷ��AV Fund Coordinator

Sarah Harrison

Officer for Volunteer and Class Management

Lauren Katz ’07

ŷ��AV Fund Officer for Leadership Annual Giving

Audrey Markarian ’07

Associate Director for Volunteer and Class Management

Theresa O'Banner

Administrative Assistant

Julie Ogg FP’22, P’14

ŷ��AV Fund Coordinator

Meghan Safford

Officer for Recent Alums and Student Philanthropy

Contact us

The ŷ��AV Fund

The ŷ��AV Fund (MHF) team works with donors and volunteers to support the College’s annual fund. Gifts to the MHF are put to work immediately to support ŷ��AV’s most pressing needs and impact all aspects of campus life.

giving@mtholyoke.edu
413-538-2032, 800-MHC-GIVE
Lower level, Mary E. Woolley Hall

Theresa O'Banner

Administrative Assistant

Visit ŷ��AV Apply

The ŷ��AV Fund

FUNd the future of ŷ��AV!

Uncommon Pursuits

The ŷ��AV Fund by the numbers

Raised in FY25 as of November 30, 2024

donors in FY25 as of November 30, 2024

minimum for sustaining gifts

ŷ��AV Fund Volunteers

Head Class Agent

Cornerstone Chair

Class Agent

Laurel Chain Society Chair

Social Media Ambassador

50th Reunion Leadership Gift Committee Member

Mary Lyon Society Class Chair

The ŷ��AV Fund Committee

ŷ��AV Fund Committee Co-Chairs

National Cornerstone Society Chair

ŷ��AV Fund Committee Members

The Beyond the 50th Reunion Committee

Beyond the 50th Committee Co-Chairs

Beyond the 50th Committee Members

Giving Societies

Sustaining gifts

ŷ��AV Fund Scholars Program

The Senior Campaign

Reunion Giving

The ŷ��AV Fund team

Director

Staff

More in The ŷ��AV Fund

Contact us

The ŷ��AV Fund