Philanthropy

President Schatzel at a podium

撸先生 Launches New Giving Society 

The Tall-Wiedefeld Society, a new and growing collective that supports positive change through philanthropy and education, launched on March 8. It was no accident that the launch coincided with International Women鈥檚 Day. Named for two of 撸先生鈥檚 exceptional past leaders鈥擫ida Lee Tall and Mary Theresa Wiedefeld鈥攖he Tall-Wiedefeld Society combines knowledge and passion with a commitment to creating a permanent legacy that addresses the needs of women at 撸先生.
 
鈥淲e want this society鈥檚 membership to grow beyond women philanthropists,鈥� says Brian DeFilippis, vice president for university advancement. 鈥淲e welcome all members and recognize our collective giving power and ability to make a difference for Towson University and our students.鈥� The society will fund projects through a member-driven, competitive grant process to benefit innovative and creative thinking.

Co-chairs of this new giving society are Tricia Turley Brandenburg, deputy director of athletics/SWA, and Donnice E. Brown 鈥�91, 鈥�94, assistant director/chief of youth services in the Mayor鈥檚 Office of Employment Development in Baltimore. For more information on the society, or to join, visit towson.edu/womensgiving.

Meet the Society Namesakes 

Lida Lee Tall was the head of the Maryland State Normal School (MSNS) from 1920鈥�38. After merging with the Baltimore Teacher鈥檚 Training School in 1924, MSNS was poised to become the largest educator of certified Maryland teachers, a distinction that 撸先生 still holds today. In 1934, the school was granted the ability to award four-year Bachelor of Science degrees in education and was renamed the Maryland State Teachers College at Towson (STC). 

Mary Theresa Wiedefeld, a 1904 graduate of the MSNS and faculty member in the Model School, was named president of STC in 1938. She led the school through World War II, rallied the campus to support community members who were serving and created a campaign to raise money by buying war bonds for school projects. She also started a junior college to attract more individuals to campus after the war, essentially creating 撸先生鈥檚 liberal arts programs in the process.

RISE, the campaign for Towson University

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