The Clark Foundation Awards Marymount Manhattan $500,000 For Bedford Hills College Program

With the cooperation of a consortium of New York area colleges, Marymount Manhattan has served as the degree-granting institution for the program since the spring of 1997, and has managed its operations since late 2004. The Bedford Hills College Program (BHCP) offers non-credit college-preparatory courses in writing and math, as well as credit-bearing courses leading to Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees. To date, MMC has conferred more than 100 associates and bachelor’s degrees to Bedford Hills students since the program’s inception.

Valerie Rowe, a friend and supporter of MMC’s Bedford Hills College Program, pledged to match gifts to an endowment for the BHCP up to $1,000,000. The Clark Foundation grant will be matched by Rowe as well as count toward a challenge grant awarded by The Kresge Foundation.

In December 2007, The Kresge Foundation awarded a $1.5 million challenge grant to Marymount Manhattan to support the construction of The Lowerre Family Terrace, the first major facilities project of This is the Day, the campaign for Marymount Manhattan College. The Kresge grant encourages contributions from a broader pool of individual donors to help complete the campaign, and increases Marymount Manhattan’s visibility and impact within its community. In order to meet the Kresge challenge, the College must complete the campaign by securing gifts and pledges totaling $25 million by July 1, 2009. 

By providing financial resources to endow the Bedford Hills College Program, The Clark Foundation grant also supports the student access initiative of the campaign for Marymount Manhattan College. 

“The Clark Foundation applauds the commitment of Marymount Manhattan College for continuing to offer this fine, and so necessary, program,” said Charles H. Hamilton, Executive Director of The Clark Foundation. “We wish the College much success with The Bedford Hills College Program.”

Support from The Clark Foundation allows Marymount Manhattan to fulfill its mission of educating a socially and economically diverse population, including those individuals often overlooked in the educational process. 

“The Clark Foundation is one of New York City’s leading philanthropic organizations, and their financial assistance ensures that more women will have access to higher education,” said Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., President of Marymount Manhattan College. “This grant is meaningful to Marymount Manhattan College and the true recipients, the women enrolled in the Bedford Hills College Program.”

“Because the desire of our students for an education is so very strong, this program has continued through many financially difficult periods,” said Aileen Baumgartner, director of the Bedford Hills College Program. “The Clark Foundation grant means that our students know that college will continue to be available to them. This is beneficial creative knowledge of the kind that helps individuals flourish because the worry caused by need has been alleviated.”

Marymount Manhattan College is an urban, independent, liberal arts college, located on the Upper East Side of New York City. The College offers a strong program in the arts and sciences for students of all ages, as well as substantial pre-professional preparation and serves as a resource and learning center for the metropolitan community.

Published: July 10, 2008