Anonymous donor gives nearly $4M to UofSC

On the heels of a successful $1 billion capital fundraising campaign, a donor from Columbia has bequeathed nearly $4 million to a variety of scholarship and educational programs at the University of South Carolina.

The $3.94 million donation, which was made by a recently-deceased alumnus who wished to remain anonymous, will go to fund scholarships at the South Carolina Honors College and the School of Music, allow for the hiring of a full-time steward at the Belser Arboretum, and rare book acquisition and preservation at the University Libraries.

“This donor was a true renaissance person,” said Eleanor Foster Swarat, associate vice president for development at USC.  “The donor had been very successful on a professional level and continued his involvement with many areas of the university.  This quiet philanthropist preferred not to be in the limelight, but wanted to assist others in making their mark on Carolina’s future.”

Initiatives funded with the gift include:

• A scholarship program for graduate assistantships and fellowships at the School of Music. The donation is one of the largest of its kind the school has received;

• Book acquisition and preservation at the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. The University Libraries’ collection is committed to preserving rare materials and making them accessible to students, scholars, and the wider community. Holdings include approximately 160,000 items and more than 50 archival collections, ranging from early medieval manuscripts to historical scientific works and modern literature;

• A full-time manager position for the Belser Arboretum in Columbia. The arboretum was established in 1958 as a sanctuary for teaching ecology and conservation practices to undergraduates at the university. It hosts lectures and trail walks for students enrolled in environmental classes and allows for first-hand observations;

• The Carolina Scholar scholarships program, which provides financial assistance to students enrolled in the South Carolina Honors College. The scholarships are among the most prestigious in-state undergraduate awards offered at the university and help attract and retain the state’s best young scholars.

Impact of the Gift

 “The School of Music is deeply indebted for this remarkable gift, one of the largest in its history, made by certainly one of the Schools most generous and passionate donors and friends.  It will provide important support for Music student financial aid at Carolina, primarily graduate assistantships and fellowships—one of our biggest areas of need.”

–Dean Tayloe Harding, School of Music