Grace LeGendre Endowment Fund, Inc. (GLEF)

What is this all about?

What if GLEF?

• A 501 (c) 3, tax exempt status fund• The Fund provides women residing in NY

State with a fellowship to complete master and doctorate degrees

• Fellowships are awarded to qualified women• Special grants are given to groups or

individuals for research, seminars and educational programs for all women

Who is this Grace LeGendre?

• 1935-36 President of NYS Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Club (now called NYS Women)

• From Rochester New York• In 1934, established the Mable Winters Scholarship

Fund- forerunner of NYS/BPW State Scholarship• Distinguished herself as serving as NYS Scholarship

Chairman for 19 years• In 1948, the State Scholarship was renamed the

Grace LeGendre Fellowship 

What do we do?

• Support women with their goals and dreams• Provide educational opportunities to women• Support women working toward their

masters or doctorates• Prepare women for the business and

professional world• Offer educational opportunities for NYS

groups and individuals through special grant program

Why do we do it?

• Women need our support• Women have been underserved in the

education market• Post graduate degrees are required for

many careers• Level the playing

What have we achieved?

• Been in operation since 1989: 25 years• Given over $140,000 to over 140 individuals• Awards have been given to students from 52

different NYS colleges and universities• Special grants have been given to local

chapters and regions for workshops, research and seminars for all women

• Special grant money is now available every year, showing growth from every other year

More about the Special Grants Program

• Began in 2004• Who is Eligible?– NYS Women, Inc. local Chapter or Region– Organizations (e.g., AAUW) not affiliated with NYS

Women, Inc.• Who has received a grant?– Buffalo BPW, Norwich, BPW, Youth Leadership,

Grand Island (2x), PW of Finger Lakes– For programs on ID, Women’s Conference, Breast

Cancer awareness, Diabetes awareness, Jumpstarting careers or businesses

How can you help?

• Contribute!!! All donations are tax deductible

• Help expand the endowment• Corporate donations accepted• Spread the word• Urge women to apply http://www.gracelegendre.org/

• Beneficiaries and legacies accepted

Who can apply for the fellowship?

• Be a woman who– Is a resident of New York State– Attends a NYS college or university– Is a US citizen and a NYS permanent resident– Is currently enrolled in a masters or doctorate

degree program and within 2 years of completion– Shows evidence of scholastic ability and a need

for financial assistance

NY Grace LeGendre Endowment Fund, Inc.

2014 Awardees

Alycia Askew• New York Chiropractic

College• Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

• Early on, Alycia decided that she wanted to help others who were struggling with their health.

Dominique Bertrand• State University of

New York Buffalo• Pursuing her Ph.D. in Anthropology-Primatology

• Dominique’s dissertation research focuses on how humans influence the behavior and physiology of a critically endangered primate in Indonesia

Carmen Lee     • Columbia Teachers

College

• M.A. in Early Childhood Education

• Carmen resolves to educate future generations on becoming more socially conscious

Choumika Simonis• Teachers College at

Columbia University• Pursuing Masters of Science in Community Health Education

• Choumika’s ultimate goal is to be a physician specializing in infectious diseases and public health issues

Award Luncheon in Albany

• Carmen Lee and Choumika Simonis

• Accepting their Award at the NY GLEF Luncheon in Albany NY

• May 3, 2014