Winthrop's largest single benefactor endowment
Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 11:28AM By Claire Byun
More than $3 million in scholarships have been donated by Thomas G. Slaughter, making him the largest single donor in Winthrop’s history.
The school will receive additional money through a planned gift, which include estate plans.
Slaughter has directed his estate gifts to the Slaughter-Wilkerson Endowed Scholarship, which he established in 2007.
The endowment provides scholarships to students from York County, S.C., with first consideration given to students from Hickory Grove, Slaughter’s hometown.
The scholarship allows the recipient to pursue a degree in any of Winthrop’s fully accredited programs.
“I can impact so many more lives by making these gifts to Winthrop,” Slaughter said. “My goal is to provide outstanding educational opportunity to the young men and women of Hickory Grove and Winthrop is a wonderful university in which I have great confidence. This is the single best investment I will ever make."
Because the scholarship is already in place, the additional testamentary gift will further supplement the awards.
“As the dollar amount in the endowment increases, the amount of scholarship award will also increase,” said Laurie Nortz, senior philanthropic advisor to the Office of Development.
The amount of students able to receive the scholarship will vary from year to year, because it depends upon the number of students who fit the criteria and are then selected through the award process, she said.
This donation is the fourth gift in excess of $1 million announced by Winthrop this spring. Those four are members of the D.B. Johnson Society, one of Winthrop’s premiere leadership giving societies.
The society currently has 261 members.
For more information about philanthropic support, making gifts to Winthrop or the D.B. Johnson Society, contact the Office of Development at 803-323-2150.
