W&L Celebrates Third Annual Philanthropy Education Week Campus-wide events highlight the role of giving in shaping the student experience.

By Julie Jackson
March 20, 2025

Washington and Lee University celebrated its third annual Philanthropy Education Week (PEW), March 10-13, highlighting the transformative impact of philanthropic contributions on the student experience. The week’s activities were organized by the Office of University Development with help from student groups including the Development Ambassadors, Senior Gift Committee and W&L Fund phonathon callers. The four-day event provided students with engaging and interactive opportunities to learn about the role of donor support in university life.

“Philanthropy is woven into the fabric of Washington and Lee,” said Jennifer Furrow, assistant director of annual giving. “By educating students on the significance of giving, we are preparing them to be responsible leaders who understand the power of generosity and its role in their university education.”

Throughout the week, students participated in a series of events designed to reinforce the university’s culture of philanthropy. The popular Trivia Taxi returned, offering students complimentary golf cart rides to class from President Will Dudley, Provost Lena Hill and other faculty and staff members who quizzed them on philanthropy-related trivia. Additionally, tabling activities in Elrod Commons featured interactive games, prizes and opportunities to write thank-you notes to W&L donors.

Maddie David ’27 serves as a Development Ambassador and helped plan and execute the week’s activities.

“Over the course of the week, hundreds of students engaged with PEW activities in some way,” said David. “It is great to see how many students are actively involved with development and genuinely care about the impact of philanthropy at W&L.”

A highlight of the week was the Leading Lives of Consequence dinner and bingo, where students gathered to hear from faculty and staff about the profound effects of philanthropy on their work and the broader university community. Guest speakers included Dean of Student Engagement and Leadership Tammy Futrell; Elizabeth Oliver, associate dean of the Williams School and Lewis Whitaker Adams Professor in Commerce; and Shane Lynch, professor of music and director of choral activities. Each speaker reflected on what it means to lead a life of consequence and the role that philanthropy plays in shaping those experiences.

“That’s the beauty of philanthropy – whether it’s a major donation or a smaller, more heartfelt contribution, every single gift plays a role in shaping the student experience,” Futrell said. “Every act of generosity builds a lasting legacy.”

This year’s Philanthropy Education Week comes just months after W&L publicly launched its $650 million Leading Lives of Consequence capital campaign in October. The campaign aims to strengthen W&L’s commitment to academic excellence, student opportunity and institutional sustainability by increasing funding for scholarships, faculty support and campus enhancements.

“This week serves as a powerful reminder of the generosity that enables our students to thrive,” Furrow said. “We hope students walk away from these events with a greater appreciation for the community of donors who invest in their future – and with the understanding that they, too, have the ability to make a difference.