The Business and Professional Women's Clubs of New York State, Inc, established the Grace LeGendre Fellowship in 1969. The Fellowship is named for a former president of the Rochester BPW and a past president of the BPW/NY State Federation.

The Fellowship provides awards to women who are candidates for master and doctoral degrees at colleges and universities throughout New York State in a wide range of disciplines. An annual competition is held and administered by a BPW/NY Grace LeGendre Endowment Fund committee.

To ensure that financial aid is available on a permanent basis, the BPW/NY Grace LeGendre Endowment Fund, Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3), not for-profit corporation. This means gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law and that the principal raised will always remain invested. It will  be possible to continue supporting many deserving women for years to come.

THE NEED:

The number of women in graduate study in a variety of fields is increasing dramatically at a time when tuition and other costs are rising rapidly. Societal changes represent opportunities for women to take important leadership roles in industry, government, and world affairs.

Each year this annual fellowship competition attracts many applicants. Recently their requests have become even more urgent due to state and federal cutbacks.

OPERATING FUNDS:

Your entire gift goes into the permanent endowment. A small, separate operating account, supported by special projects, is used to cover fundraising expenses. The fundraising costs are kept to a bare minimum through the dedicated efforts of volunteers and in-kind contributions by their employers.

HOW TO HELP:

Gifts of any amount are warmly welcomed and may be made "In Honor Of" or "In Memory Of" a person of your choice.

A separate category "Benefactors" recognizes gifts of $1,000 or more. The donor's name is engraved on a brass plate mounted on a plaque.

If a donor wishes to remain anonymous, we will honor that request.

Matching gifts by employers are enthusiastically encouraged. Corporate donors are welcomed partners in our fundraising drive and will receive special publicity.

Receipts are issued for all gifts, regardless of amount.

Gifts of life insurance, stocks, bonds, antiques, real estate or other tangibles are welcomed. Bequests can easily be accomplished by asking your attorney to insert this codicil in your will:

"I give and bequeath to BPW/NY Grace LeGendre Endowment Fund, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, the sum of $_________ or _________ percent of my estate, to be used at the discretion of the same Fund to further educational opportunities for New York State women."

DONATIONS MAILING ADDRESS:

BPW/NY Grace LeGendre Endowment Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 88
Gowanda, NY 14070-0088