Alumni
Social work is engaged in so many critical and high-need areas of our society, and preparing the next generation of leaders and change-makers is a vital role for Pitt Social Work. Due to several federal and foundation grants, our school has been able to launch high-impact programs that provide essential financial support to students as they embark on these meaningful careers. However, when these grants conclude or funding priorities shift away from urgent societal needs, we risk having to discontinue these valuable programs unless we secure sustainable funding. Donor support is essential for both maintaining and expanding these initiatives.
Our cover story highlights Pitt's commitment to developing the next generation of child welfare professionals. Programs like CWEL offer federal financial assistance to students already employed in public child welfare agencies so that they can increase their skills and career options with an MSW. Periodically, other funding sources allow us to offer some financial support to students who are interested in child welfare but are not currently employed in the field. For instance, under the National Child Welfare Workforce Initiative (NCWWI), we were able to recruit and support students in this way for 5 years. However, when the funding expired (as nearly all federal and foundation grants do), sustainability of the program was not possible within our financial resources.
Hearing about this experience and deeply passionate about improving the child welfare system, an alumnus and his wife have stepped up to address this gap. By designating a significant portion of their estate to Pitt, David and Suzanne Grebe Kemple will address the need in Pitt Social Work to encourage and support students who want to pursue a career in child welfare.
"It is truly wonderful to have donors like the Kemples who are so passionate about supporting students who want to work toward creating a more equitable, excellent, family-centered, and critical child welfare system. It has been a privilege to get to know them and witness their genuine commitment to supporting children and families, along with their dedication to the system that is designed to safeguard and nurture our youth. I have appreciated their insights into current issues in the field and how supporting students allows them to influence, into perpetuity, careers that will assure that Pitt students are leading the way far into the future." –Dean Betsy Farmer
Another alumnus, William J. Lelik, was grateful for the impact a scholarship had on his own MSW experience and recognized how important funding can be in supporting students' work. Lelik’s planned gift, made by designating Pitt Social Work as the beneficiary of his retirement assets, will provide funds for immediate use and will establish an endowment fund in the school. Endowments provide an annual distribution of support to the school in perpetuity. The combination of current use and endowed funds will allow Pitt Social Work to sustain an existing student support program, such as a fellowship program, or to create a new sustainable student support program.
"Alumni who ‘pay it back’ and ‘pay it forward’ are truly wonderful – many of our students struggle to make ends meet while they complete their degree. As we know, practicum placements are an essential way for students to get immersed in practice and learn in real-life settings. And they also take a great deal of time, which restricts students' flexibility for additional employment. So, creating sustainable funding sources that can help support students as they do their practicum is incredibly helpful. Often this type of support makes it possible for a student to pursue their passion, complete their degree, and become the social work innovators and leaders that we need!"—Dean Betsy Farmer
Student support is a top fundraising priority in our school, and every gift makes a significant impact in the lives of our students! Scholarships, emergency funds, paid practicums, fellowships, are just a few examples of student support opportunities. By considering a planned gift, you can make an even greater impact than through your annual giving alone, while reducing your tax burden and even creating an income stream for you or a loved one. We invite you to consider planned giving as a way to make a lasting difference at the School of Social Work.
