Eta Pi Upsilon - How to Contribute

Every gift – large and small – has the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of women trying to improve their lives through education. The fund is valued at more than $1.6 million, and this generates enough interest annually to provide over 20 scholarships to UC women each year.

You can contribute to Eta Pi in several ways:

Annual Appeal
Once a year, the Eta Pi Upsilon Alumnae Association mails its newsletter to all living alumnae.  There is a form for donations in the newsletter. If you are not receiving the newsletter, please contact dparker682@yahoo.com .

Donate Online
Use this form to make your donation to the Eta Pi Upsilon Scholarship Fund. Keep in mind that 100 percent of your gift will go to the scholarship fund for use for students in need. Nothing will be used for administrative costs. http://givetosu.syr.edu/yesu_giving.asp

Planned Giving
A shining example of this type of gift is the bequest of Mark Clements ‘36, who made a gift in honor of his wife, Pearl Ness Clements. Pearl, an enthusiastic Eta Pi member and supporter, was the first and only graduate of SU’s original School of Journalism in 1935. Years before her 1990 death, Pearl had established the Pearl Ness Clements scholarship, providing awards to two students each year. Her husband Mark was inspired by Pearl’s devotion to Eta Pi, and expressed his love and admiration for her by leaving Eta Pi an additional gift of $573,093 when he died in 2004 and the estate formally settled in 2008. The Clements’ generosity provides five to eight scholarships each year.

Another generous gift honors the friendship between Mildred Stiles Lapham ’30 and Joan Bosworth Lapham ’56. As Mrs. Byron J. Lapham, Mildred was stepmother-in-law to Joan, who is Mrs. Byron J. Lapham Jr. The two women enjoyed a “marvelous 50 years of friendship,” and as a tribute, Mildred left a $200,000 bequest to Joan. Together, they decided to direct the funds where they could have maximum benefit, and gave this generous, lasting gift to the Eta Pi Scholarship Fund. 

Your gift may be as simple as adding Eta Pi as one of your beneficiaries on a life insurance policy. Or, after you make provisions for your loved ones in your will, you can list Eta Pi Upsilon as an organization you’d like to support through a bequest. This may be given in the form of a specific dollar amount or as a percentage of your estate.  You could also turn over highly appreciated stock to Eta Pi, avoiding capital gains taxes, and ask that you receive an annual income from that stock gift for the rest of your life. There are significant tax benefits to this type of gift-giving, and they provide a cost-effective way to make a profound difference through Eta Pi when you pass on.

Call Peg Stearns, Director of Development at UC, at 315-443-3261, for information on making a donation, bequest, or named scholarship to the Eta Pi Upsilon Scholarship Fund.  She will be happy to meet with you to review the options for giving as you provide for your own needs and for your heirs while creating a lasting legacy to Eta Pi and its profound effect on women’s lives.