SJC Receives Largest Planned Gift in its History

November 23, 2009

BROOKLYN AND LONG ISLAND, NY November 24, 2009 - St. Josephs College is pleased to announce it has received the largest financial donation in its history a planned giving gift in the amount of $4 million from alumna Elaine Smythe 52 which will be used to establish an endowed scholarship in memory of her parents, Daniel and Margaret Smythe.

The Daniel and Margaret Smythe Endowed Scholarship, which will benefit students in the field of child study, is a tribute to Elaine Smythes own career as a former teacher in the New York public school system. She passed away on July 31, 2009.

"Elaine Smythe was a very gentle woman, who never sought any recognition for her generosity. Her only desire was to help our students have the same opportunity for a wonderful education that she had enjoyed, said Sister Elizabeth Hill, C.S.J, J.D., president of St. Josephs College. "We are enormously grateful to her, and we are happy to be able to commemorate her in the way that would have been most meaningful to herby helping students, and paying tribute to her parents.

In 2001, Elaine Smythe named St. Josephs College as the owner and beneficiary of a $1 million insurance policy, the largest planned gift in the history of the College at that time.  She later increased the amount to $4 million.

After 45 years of teaching kindergarten, Elaine Smythe retired and enjoyed travelling to China, Egypt, Turkey, Europe and throughout most of the United States. She has said that some of her fondest memories were from her time spent at the Colleges Dillon Child Study Center, and she wanted to provide todays students with the same opportunities that she had.