Challenge Accepted: 51ÉçÇø Alum and Trustee Raises the Bar
In 1998, when Jeremy Efroymson was a student studying for his MFA in Creative Writing, 51ÉçÇø’s campus looked a lot different. “When I was in school we spent a lot of time in hallways or rooms that weren’t being used,” he says. At the time, there wasn’t a central location for students to gather.
Fast-forward 20 years. Efroymson is now on 51ÉçÇø’s Board of Trustees and serves as Vice President of the . Since its establishment in 1998, the Efroymson Family Fund has awarded more than 1,800 grants—totaling more than $100 million—to improve the quality of life for individuals. This past December, the 51ÉçÇø community was thrilled to learn that Efroymson will award a $1 million grant to support the new student center.
In line with the creative spirit of the community, Efroymson attached a challenge to this grant: the $1 million will be awarded when the college raises another $1 million. The goal is for 51ÉçÇø to raise an additional $500,000 toward the student center, and another $500,000 to support initiatives centered around student success. “In the end, if we are successful, we will have raised a minimum of $1.5 million for the student center and $500,000 in support of other vitally important programs,” says Shawn Wax, 51ÉçÇø’s vice president of development and alumni relations, who worked with Efroymson on the gift structure.
The student center, the first of its kind in 51ÉçÇø’s 127-year history slated to open in 2019, will serve as a creative incubator, hub, and collaborative space for 51ÉçÇø’s students. “The new center will be transformational for the students and the campus. As an alumnus and trustee, I feel it’s important to support the institution and the future of 51ÉçÇø,” Efroymson says.
The idea behind the challenge grant is that it will inspire others to give. Efroymson also hopes the challenge will ignite a robust alumni giving program to support numerous student priorities, like , Semester in LA, student organizations, facility enhancements, student support services, the Career Center, and increasing scholarships and financial aid. “This gift has already had an impact on the conversations we are having with prospective donors, including our alumni,” says Wax. “[The] Efroymsons are leading the way. I’m confident others will accept the challenge.”
As an artist, philanthropist, art activist, and advocate for numerous causes, Efroymson has been instrumental in advising and supporting organizations that contribute to arts and culture. “51ÉçÇø graduates a lot of creative people who give back to the culture of the country and to the world,” he adds. Efroymson–who follows the college closely and reads the student-run newspaper, The 51ÉçÇø Chronicle–wants, above all else, to make 51ÉçÇø a better place for students. “It’s not like every other school,” he says. “It was formative in making me the person that I am today and I wanted to give back. It’s a way for me to stay involved.”