By Emily Glory Peters and Kendra Pintor
If Scripps alums are known for anything, it鈥檚 dreaming big. Sometimes, it鈥檚 in service of their personal or professional ambitions鈥攂ut often, it鈥檚 for others.
Selflessness was the chosen path for Elm Tree Society members Elizabeth 鈥淏etsy鈥� Gordon Reinhold 鈥�57 and Elizabeth Rosemary Plane Sage 鈥�44. Founded in honor of Ellen Browning Scripps, the Elm Tree Society鈥檚 members are committed to sustaining a stable future for Scripps.
From Access to Arts: Supporting Future Generations
A dedicated classical pianist, Reinhold鈥檚 passion for the liberal arts was a guiding force throughout her life. Following her passing in January 2024, she left a bequest of $6.3 million directed to three areas: Scripps Access Initiative scholarships, community projects, and a Kawai grand piano which has quickly become a favorite among students living in Toll Hall.
鈥淧lanned gifts are vital to 麻豆区鈥檚 ability to evolve and thrive for future generations,鈥� says Director of Gift Planning Casey Crosbie. 鈥淏etsy Reinhold exemplifies how thoughtful estate planning can create lasting impact well into the future.鈥�
A remarkable $4 million of Reinhold鈥檚 gift will help remove barriers to student enrollment, allowing the College鈥檚 Office of Admission to offer acceptance to top applicants with the highest need. The remaining $2.3 million will support the Centennial Plaza Project, a revitalization of Scripps鈥� western entrance. Once completed, the plaza will feature a buzzing arts district with much-needed teaching and gathering spaces鈥� including Scripps鈥� eagerly awaited dance facility.
The new dance building would likely have been a treasured campus space for Rosemary Sage, a gifted artist who, like Reinhold, found purpose as both a dancer and painter. Her time at Scripps left a deep imprint, inspiring her to make a meaningful gift to the College. Upon her passing at the remarkable age of 100, Sage鈥檚 estate established the Elizabeth Rosemary Plane Sage Trust Art Fund with a bequest of $1.1 million, ensuring enduring support for Scripps鈥� Department of Art.
Kasper Kovitz, associate professor of art and Chair of the Department of Art, knew where Sage鈥檚 gift would do the most good. Her generosity will now fuel skill-based workshops, student-curated exhibitions, state-of-the-art equipment and supplies, paid professional opportunities for students and faculty, facility upgrades, and community events.
鈥淢any art majors don鈥檛 meet each other until their penultimate senior seminar,鈥� says Kovitz, expressing excitement for upcoming lectures, film screenings, and projects made possible by the Sage fund. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly important that young artists foster connection around their shared interests.鈥�
The impact of Sage鈥檚 gift is already evident. Critical renovations to Scripps鈥� senior art studio are underway, with more enhancements slated as the College continues to attract cohorts of emerging creatives. With the art department serving nearly 500 students across The Claremont Colleges, these benefits will ripple far beyond Scripps.
Planned Giving Will Shape Scripps鈥� Next Century
While Crosbie notes that philanthropy can feel like something reserved only for extremely wealthy people, planned gifts are flexible, empowering donors to help others without disrupting their present finances. They can range from physical items鈥攍ike Reinhold鈥檚 piano鈥攖o gifts of property or even a donation made to The Scripps Fund in honor of a loved one. Bequests also offer something unique: long-term stability for Scripps.
鈥淓lm Tree Society members like Betsy and Rosemary help us plan far ahead and weather economic changes,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd鈥攊n classic Scripps style鈥攄ream much bigger.鈥�