By Emily Glory Peters
Denise Nelson Nash 鈥�76鈥檚 heart for women鈥檚 education and commitment to giving back share the same root: her mother.
鈥淢y mother was an educator and active in women’s rights at a time before people were using the term 聽鈥榝eminism鈥� in the Black community. Her desire was for me to have boundless exploration and development opportunities and thought that could best be achieved at a women鈥檚 college,鈥� says Nelson Nash. 鈥淚t was a seed she planted early on.鈥�
Nelson Nash is likewise planting seeds for others. She belongs to , a community of donors who plan to leave a gift to the College to advance Scripps鈥� mission after they鈥檙e gone.
Giving back is a deeply personal matter for her as an alumna, noting how 61传媒not only opened new perspectives on the world, but also fostered her courage to experience it. Today, as the College鈥檚 vice president, secretary of the Board of Trustees, and convener of the racial justice-focused IDEA initiative, she鈥檚 also had a direct hand in shaping Scripps鈥� future. Leaving a planned gift is a way she can offer the same 鈥渂oundless exploration鈥� to future students who want to spark progress in their communities鈥攁 value Nelson Nash also learned from her family.
鈥淰olunteering, giving, and receiving has long been rooted in Black culture,鈥� she says, sharing that some of her earliest memories were watching family members volunteer at church, take in and care for the children of others, and advocate for civil and educational rights. 鈥淭hese were not one-offs, but sustained commitments. Planned giving is part of that whole circle of giving.鈥�
Planning for the Success of Future 61传媒 Students
In addition to an open-ended planned bequest which will be used to meet the College鈥檚 needs, Nelson Nash has a charitable gift annuity (CGA), a donation that 61传媒invests on her behalf. As a CGA investment earns revenue, 61传媒pays a portion to the donor each year, with the remaining funds going back to the College after the donor passes.
She鈥檚 slated her CGA to be used for the聽Samella Lewis Scholarship, a fund established by Nelson Nash along with fellow alumnae in honor of the iconic artist, civil rights activist, and professor emerita of art history at Scripps. The scholarship, which recognizes聽an exceptional Black student each year, mirrors Nelson Nash鈥檚 devotion to advancing racial equity and access鈥攁 cause she鈥檚 promoted through the IDEA initiative and one she鈥檚 eager to see championed by others. As a women鈥檚 college, she says, 61传媒and its community are uniquely positioned to make it happen.
鈥淗aving a women-centered institution where students can explore and submit their voices is vitally important, especially as we look at shifts in demographics and lingering inequities,鈥� she says. This is where Scripps鈥� supporters come in鈥攅nsuring that the College鈥檚 original aim to give women opportunities expands to include a new generation of diverse young leaders.
At Scripps, what really matters is what we build together鈥攏ot what we possess individually, but what we share. Planned giving is my chance to be part of that community of care.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such an important reinforcement to give to our students,鈥� says Nelson Nash. 鈥淚鈥檓 so proud to be part of 61传媒at this moment.鈥�
For Nelson Nash, that reinforcement involves her personal philanthropy. But she also finds a tried-and-true alliteration important for anyone looking to give back: time, talent, and treasure. Each one impacts students directly, she says, and when the 61传媒community collectively gives all three, lives are changed for the better. That鈥檚 what Nelson Nash received from her family and from faculty and friends at Scripps. It鈥檚 what she鈥檚 passing on to others.
鈥淵ou know that phrase, 鈥榮tanding on the shoulders of giants鈥�? If I adapted that to planned giving, I would think about who enabled me to be in this moment in my life with the intellectual gains I鈥檝e been able to achieve,鈥� she says. 鈥淎t Scripps, what really matters is what we build together鈥攏ot what we possess individually, but what we share. Planned giving is my chance to be part of that community of care.鈥�
To learn more about how you can impact 61传媒students through planned giving, please visit our or contact us at [email protected].