Low-income Evergreen students studying sustainability, nature conservation or business will soon get some extra help from high-level sources. A $500,000 pledge from the Dan and Sheryl Tishman Family Foundation, along with a matching grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will be used by The Evergreen State College Foundation to create a new $1 million scholarship fund. The fund will support up to 25 students annually.
Dan Tishman, who graduated from Evergreen in 1977, is chairman and CEO of Tishman Construction, one of New York City’s top building companies. Responsible for rebuilding the World Trade Center complex after the attacks of 9/11, Tishman Construction is also noted for environmentally friendly buildings throughout the city. Tishman is also chairman of the Board of the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the world’s leading environmental advocacy organizations.
“Sheryl and I are so pleased that this pledge will create opportunities for Evergreen students for years to come. We are true believers in the value of education and hope that this scholarship program will make a difference in many, many lives,” said Tishman.
“I am especially proud to make this investment to support students at my alma mater, Evergreen, a college that allowed me to explore my passion for sustainability and nature conservation, which ultimately developed into a lifelong commitment,” he said.
Les Purce, president of The Evergreen State College, sees the Tishman and Gates Foundation gifts as directly supporting Evergreen’s commitment to college access. “The investment by the Tishman Family Foundation, along with the matching Gates Foundation grant, will support students from the widest range of backgrounds in completing their degrees today, tomorrow and long into the future.”
Submitted by The Evergreen State College
