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Philanthropy

A Green Life to A Green Scholarship


A recently established environmental law scholarship memorializes the life and work of Frances M. “Kelley” Green, JD ’72, a prominent environmental lawyer, advocate, and philanthropist.

Long before environmentalism was in vogue, Frances M. “Kelley” Green, JD ’72, devoted her life and career to protecting our planet. A prominent environmental lawyer, advocate, and philanthropist, Green passed away in 2003 at the age of 57, leaving behind a rich legacy.

Green’s name will live on in perpetuity at GW Law School through the recently-established Frances “Kelley” Green Scholarship. The endowment will provide scholarships to GW students focusing on environmental law with a demonstrated interest in public service.

“We wanted to memorialize Kelley’s lifelong work through the fund, which will help law students follow their passion to work in the environmental and public interest fields without the worry of huge debt,” says Ann G. Wylie, president of the Green Fund, a private philanthropic foundation established with Green’s assets after her death. Wylie, who is professor of geology and interim vice president for administrative affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park, was Green’s roommate at Wellesley College and longtime best friend. “Through the scholarship fund at GW Law School, we are pleased to pay tribute to Kelley at the institution that gave her the tools and credentials to do the work that she found most meaningful in her life,” she explains.

A native of Milledgeville, Ga., Green graduated with honors from GW Law, where she served as notes editor of The Law Review. After working for a short time in private practice, she joined the Carter administration Department of Justice transition team and went on to serve as deputy associate U.S. attorney general and deputy general counsel at the Department of Commerce.

In 1988, Green moved out west to teach environmental law at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The following year, she founded the Boulder-based Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, a nonprofit environmental law and advocacy center, which she led as president for nearly a decade. “She created the LAW Fund to provide legal services to protect the environment, particularly natural habitats and open spaces, and the center expanded greatly under her leadership,” Wylie says.

Soon after, Green created a second nonprofit organization, Earth Walk, devoted to environmental education. “Kelley founded Earth Walk to connect inner-city kids from Denver with nature and to instill in them a love and reverence for the environment,” Wylie explains. “She was an extremely idealistic person who really wanted to make a difference.”

When not hard at work protecting the environment, Green reveled in the great outdoors. “She was an avid skier, hiker, biker, kayaker, mountain climber, and world traveler,” Wylie says. Green was also a philanthropist, who generously supported a variety of causes that were close to her heart. “The majority of her philanthropy was focused on women’s and children’s concerns worldwide and the environment,” says Wylie, noting that Green always gave anonymously. “She was not looking for recognition. It is simply what she wanted to do with her life. We’re thrilled that the fund will perpetuate her memory at GW Law School while helping young law students realize their dreams.”

—Jamie L. Freedman

Class of 2008 Establishes Scholarship Fund


Members of the Class of 2008 celebrate the success of their class gift at a reception at Clyde’s during graduation week. From left: Kerrie Riggs, Josh Cohen, Bryan King, and Rachel Kleiner.

Members of the Class of 2008 celebrated their graduation from the Law School by establishing the Class of 2008 Scholarship Fund. In doing so, they set a new record for participation in the graduating Class Gift program.

Led by Student Bar Association President Bryan King and Class Gift Chair Abby Raines, the Class of 2008 reached its goal of 75 percent participation and contributed more than $8,000 in outright gifts. Also, for the first time since the program’s inception in 2005, a third of the donors to the Class of 2008 Scholarship Fund pledged to contribute more than $10,000 in additional gifts over the next four years, bringing the projected total to more than $18,000. This unprecedented commitment to sustain the growth of the fund leading up to the class’ fifth reunion will make a significant impact on the school’s ability to provide a GW Law education to deserving and qualified students regardless of financial need.

The Graduating Class Gift program was established in 2005 by students who wanted to commemorate their graduation from the Law School by giving back to an area of the school in need of critical financial support. The program has grown consistently each year since its inception. The collective achievements of each succeeding class have set important examples for all classes—past, present, and future.

Thank you, Class of 2008, for your hard work and generosity. The tradition continues for graduating students to leave the Law School better than they found it.

—Cara M. Linehan

Classes of 1973 and 1968 Step Up Fund Raising At Reunion


Steven Tasher and Bill Shawn present Dean Lawrence with a record-setting reunion gift to establish the Class of 1973 Scholarship.

A highlight of GW Law Alumni Reunion Weekend occurred Saturday evening, Sept. 27, 2008, when alumni and friends gathered for the GW Law Reunion Dinner in the beautiful East Hall of the historic Union Station. Members of reunion classes saw old friends, reconnected with GW Law faculty members, and enjoyed a beautiful evening.

Dean Frederick M. Lawrence greeted returning alumni and received class gifts from the Classes of 1968 and 1973. Class of ’73 Gift Chair Steven Tasher presented Lawrence with a check for $1.24 million, representing the largest reunion gift in school history. Gifts from the 35th reunion class established an endowed Class Scholarship Fund and provided funding for research professorships.

Thanks go to Steven Tasher and the members of the class committee: David Berz, David Callet, Jan Constantine, Stephen Davidson, Darrell Dreher, Gary Granoff, Jonathan Kahan, Preston Padden, William Shawn, and Lawrence Zweifach.


Ike Sorkin (Class of ’68 gift co-chairman) presents Dean Lawrence with a check to fund the Class of 1968 40th Reunion Scholarship.

Members of the Class of 1968 celebrated their 40th reunion from GW Law. In honor of their 40th graduation anniversary, the Class of 1968 raised the largest 40th reunion gift—more than $381,491—to establish the Class of 1968 40th Reunion Scholarship Fund.

Congratulations go to the 1968 class committee members, including Ike Sorkin (co-chair), Timothy J. Waters (co-chair), William F. Banta, Sunny S. Dupree, Roger Kaplan, Gary B. Landsman, Leslie Laszlo Megyeri, Norman F. Oblon, Charles M. Rosenberg, Dolph Sand, Henry L.P. Schmelzer, and Jerome Tankel on their successful reunion gift campaign.

Many thanks go to the Classes of 1973 and 1968! Your record-breaking fund-raising efforts ensure that outstanding students will continue to be able to benefit from a GW Law education. Your enthusiasm for creating a lasting legacy at the Law School will challenge future reunion classes.


Members of the GW Law Class of 1973 celebrate their 35th reunion.


Dean Lawrence catches up with members of the 10th Reunion Class of 1998.


Bill, JD ’73, and Glenna Shawn; Steven (Class of ’73 gift chairman) and Barbara Tasher; and Dean Frederick M. and Kathy Lawrence


2008 Law Alumni Reunion in the majestic East Hall of Union Station. The event had a record turnout.