BALTIMORE — Two longtime supporters of Kennedy Krieger Institute recently gave a total of $6.6 million to the Institute through their estates.
One gift will be used to recruit new scientists and the other will be used to support the overall work of Kennedy Krieger.
Both donors were women who gave modestly, but continually throughout their lifetimes. Their charitable giving supported causes that included, but was not limited to, the education and healthcare of children. Their generosity also mirrors a current trend in philanthropy that sees women playing a large role in a family’s charitable giving.
Notably, these two gifts are the largest legacy gifts from single donors in the Institute’s history.
Eleanor Black Requard of St. Michaels, Maryland, an innovative Maryland educator during her lifetime, bequeathed $5.4 million to Kennedy Krieger to be used for the Institute’s strategic priority of recruitment of new faculty and scientists.
Requard was a Brooklyn, New York native whose family came to Baltimore when her father was appointed as chief engineer charged with overseeing construction of the Domino Sugar plant. She graduated from Towson University (then called Maryland State Normal School) and received a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University.
She later served as a supervisor for Baltimore’s Board of Education before she assumed the task of implementing kindergarten throughout the Baltimore County Public School system.
Audrey W. Clark of Glen Burnie, Maryland, bequeathed $1.2 million to the Institute. The gift came with no restrictions other than to provide funding for the Institute’s greatest needs.
Clark worked as an executive secretary for B&O Railroad and enjoyed volunteering and spending time with her extended family.
Both women were described by family and friends as humble people who cared more about making gifts to charitable causes rather than receiving credit for their generosity.
“We are so grateful for these gifts, which will allow us to make great strides in our work,” said Bradley Schlaggar, MD and PhD, Kennedy Krieger’s president and CEO. “But it was equally heartening to learn that these two generous donors supported us throughout their lifetimes. In the case of Mrs. Clark, she was a donor for more than 30 years. Both of these women supported us steadfastly for decades and their legacy gifts will impact future generations of patients and students as well.”