#  A Message of Thanks from Associate Dean Lori Stevens 

 





November 19, 2024

 

 

     ![Lori Stevens's headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/loristevens-900x600.jpg?h=f4ed5b6c&itok=4U5oBLik) 

Courtesy Lori Stevens

 



 

Dear friends,

We are grateful for your generosity this past year—your support of HDS is a beautiful reminder of the steadiness and commitment to nuanced learning and dialogue among our alumni and friends. Many of you offered support through a year of change, complexity, grief, and hope. At the same time, we heard and care deeply about questions and concerns, from many different perspectives, that some reached out to share. As the stories in this report highlight, your generosity, support, and constructive commitment are felt throughout the Harvard Divinity School community.

Through your collective generosity, the HDS Fund had one of its most successful years. As Dean Marla Frederick continues to strengthen our wonderful multireligious community, unrestricted giving bolsters the School by increasing access to financial aid for future leaders, recruiting and retaining faculty members who help generate knowledge across an array of fields, and supporting programs that inspire change and meaningful action in the world. This support is more important than ever as Dean Frederick thoughtfully leads us to consider the School’s priorities for the next decade, including areas that can be strengthened or pursued with new resources.

Additionally, many of you support HDS through planned giving, including gifts through estates and lead trusts. When longtime HDS Dean’s Council member Robert Jones passed away this year, he left a very generous and unrestricted estate gift to the School. We are deeply grateful to Bob and his wife, Ina, who passed away a few years ago. There are many ways in which planned giving can make a philanthropic impact while generating income and/or tax benefits for personal financial goals. With prudence, these gifts are an investment in the success of HDS for years to come.

As I think of all of you and your generosity this past year, I am reminded of a few lines from “Eagle Poem” by Joy Harjo, who received an honorary doctor of literature degree at this year’s Commencement exercises:

> *Like eagle that Sunday morning*  
> *Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky*  
> *In wind, swept our hearts clean*  
> *With sacred wings.*  
> *We see you, see ourselves and know*  
> *That we must take the utmost care*  
> *And kindness in all things*

I am grateful for the utmost care and kindness that you show to HDS and to the wider world. Thank you for being a part of this remarkable community.

With gratitude,  
Lori Stevens  
*Associate Dean for Development and External Relations*