Meet Our Donors
“During my tenure as a trustee, my belief in Ithaca College has deepened,” says Francille Firebaugh. “The programs are strong, we attract good students, and it’s an exciting place.”
Francille, a member of the Ithaca College Board of Trustees and the Friends of Ithaca College, was the first person to establish an annuity when the College recently resumed its charitable gift annuity program. The annuity provides Francille with an income for life, and after her lifetime the residual funds will be used to establish a named scholarship.
“This opportunity is ideal for alumni or anyone who wants to support the College’s mission and programs while maintaining a lifetime income stream. It’s remarkably easy to set up, and has definite tax advantages.”
“As a Cornell graduate and Ithaca resident, I’ve long been impressed by the positive influence of Ithaca College and the caliber of work performed by students at the School of Music,” said Henry Stark, a member of the Friends of Ithaca College. “I’ve been teaching an investment course at the county senior center, and I think I know a good investment when I see one. That’s why I decided to support the College with a life- income gift that will lead to a scholarship for deserving music students. It’s a way for me to do ‘good’ for the College while helping me realize my own investment goals.”
Through a bequest intention, Jane Seaman ’44 and her husband, Edward, have established the Jane Young Seaman ’44 Theatre Scholarship for students majoring in theater who demonstrate financial need, and the Jane Young Seaman ’44 Endowment Fund for the Promotion and Support of the Ithaca College Theatre Department.
Jane and her husband chose to support her alma mater because “having graduated in the days of East Buffalo Street, it has been exciting to see the growth of the College on South Hill, while sensing that IC has retained its focus on the individual student—a person, not a number.”
They established a scholarship for drama students because, Jane said, “As a drama major, I understand the mountainous climb for anyone trying to make it in theater. Helping a student devote his or her college time to classes and study rather than outside work should enable him or her to get more out of the college experience. My memories of IC are treasured. We hope to provide that opportunity to others in the future.”
George Curley ’49
George Curley studied drama at Ithaca College with benefit of the G.I. Bill. In 1960 he landed the part of Mortimer in the original, off-Broadway cast of The Fantasticks. Before the show opened, the quality of the script led him to invest in a 1 percent share of the production, and, with the longevity of the show, he receives royalties to this day.
George’s fondness for Ithaca prompted him to invest in a charitable gift annuity to benefit the College.
Student Testimonials
Claire Tam
Claire Tam is a film, photography, and visual arts major from Hawaii who dreams of working in the film industry. She says it all began when, at age 13, she saw the film American Beauty. “I knew I wanted to direct films. The film made me want to produce something that would be able to move people in the same way. I can think of nothing better than to spend my days creating something that will inspire thought, introduce new perspectives, and share stories.”
At the start of her junior year at IC, Claire received a James B. Pendleton Cinema and Photography Scholarship. The scholarship was made possible by a bequest from the estate of the late James B. Pendleton, a true friend of the College. Several Pendleton scholarships are awarded annually to majors in the cinema, photography, and media arts department who have achieved excellence in film production, film studies, screenwriting, and still photography.
“The scholarship allowed my family to take the money we saved and put it toward experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Specifically, I was able to put some of the money toward taking a documentary production course in South Korea. I was also able to afford attending the Ithaca College communications program in Los Angeles, a city that has a higher cost of living compared with Ithaca. The scholarship also allowed me to consider producing my films for classes with real film stock, as is encouraged by our professors, rather than cutting back on quality and shooting on video. Attending college is much more expensive for film majors because the cost of materials, such as photo paper, lighting gels, props, editing software, and film stock, is not covered by tuition and fees. Every little sum of money I can save, even if it’s just by buying cheaper pasta sauce, helps me put more money toward my creative projects, and having my projects become a reality is something I don’t want to put a price tag on.”
Christopher Jones
Christopher Jones is majoring in violin performance and music education at IC. A remarkably talented violinist, he received the Leo A. and Frances MacArthur ’25 Keilocker Scholarship, which is awarded to outstanding instrumentalists who study violin, viola, or cello. The scholarship was created by a bequest from the Keilockers, who both attended the School of Music in the 1920s.
“The Keilocker scholarship has certainly helped take some of the financial burden of college off my family. My father died of cancer in June of 2003, leaving my mother to support herself and two boys, now both in college, on a schoolteacher’s income. I was accepted at three different colleges, and Ithaca offered the most financial aid. The Keilocker scholarship was a large part of that and greatly influenced my decision to come to Ithaca.”
Christopher is a two-time winner of the Ithaca College School of Music Concerto Competition and has performed as a soloist with the IC Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a substitute violinist for the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.
“IC has given me great opportunities, such as performing onstage at Lincoln Center and in a master class with [acclaimed violinist] Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. I feel I’ve progressed at a fast pace on violin since coming to Ithaca. I’ve also grown as a music teacher and as an individual. IC has truly broadened my knowledge and world view.”
