Two nonprofit organizations are reaping the benefits of the University’s unique philanthropy course. Two Fredericksburg-area charities were awarded grants by the class, Economics 324, which functioned as a philanthropic foundation. Homes for America: Heritage Park Academic Achievement Program received a $7,000 grant, and Rebuilding Together received a $3,000 gift.

The grants were funded by Doris Buffett’s Sunshine Lady Buffett Foundation, which provided the class with $10,000 to award as it deemed fit. The course is in its second year at UMW, and it is expected to be taught each fall for at least the next two years. The Sunshine Lady Foundation is a private family foundation funded by Buffett, a Fredericksburg resident.

Homes for America: Heritage Park Academic Achievement Program is using the gift to provide tutoring assistance to children who are residents of Heritage Park Apartments in Fredericksburg. Rebuilding Together is developing a program to train young people in home improvement. The group is the nation’s largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization, serving low-income home-owners.

The philanthropy class received a total of 30 applications, a 50 percent increase over last year. The course, Economics of Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Sector, is taught by Robert Rycroft, professor of economics. It allows students to learn about philanthropy through hands-on assignments. Students form a foundation, create the criteria for the award, solicit applications for the grants, review the applications, and select the award winners.

Econ class