Green Leaves Fund

A New Fund to Grow the Green Leaves of Intellectual Discovery and Personal Growth

A Franklin friend, Leander W. Smith, has provided Franklin College students and faculty with a remarkable new opportunity for personal and professional growth.  Mr. Smith, an American who has lived in Paris since 1983, has provided $100,000 in financial support for the “Green Leaves Fund,” which will allow students and faculty members to cross disciplinary boundaries to acquire new skills or insights that will add value to their work and expand their perspectives. For example, a student might apply for funds to develop expertise in an art form that he has not studied previously. A faculty member might apply to attend a workshop or conference that is outside the normal boundaries of her discipline.  In all cases, thinking “out of the box” will be encouraged.

Why Franklin? On the occasion of his first ever visit to campus in May, facilitated by a member of the staff who knows him, Mr. Smith told President Nielsen that he was duly impressed with the scope of the College’s mission and the excellence of our academic program.  During several days of meetings and discussions he was especially pleased to observe firsthand the accomplishments of our faculty and the quality of our students and so decided to help them “grow the green leaves of intellectual discovery” that are essential as they prepare to face unforeseen challenges and create new, never before dreamed of opportunities.

The Green Leaves Fund is initially set up to provide annual funding for the next five years. However, 40% of the gift has been allocated to create an endowment so that this program will always exist at Franklin. The College has also decided to seek other interested donors to invest in this important initiative. 

For further information on how you might contribute to the Green Leaves Fund or to learn about other ways to support Franklin, please contact the Office of Advancement.

May 2010