Stories of Consequence
Why I Give is a series that celebrates the generosity of Washington and Lee University alumni, students, faculty and parents. Discover the many reasons the W&L community supports Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign for Washington and Lee and how philanthropy shapes the university’s future while honoring its enduring value.
Watch Stuart Ayer's full Why I Give interview.
“Continuing to give allows students to have the resources they need to explore their passions in and outside of the classroom, so that they don't have any barriers to achieving their goals.” - Stuart Ayer ’20
What inspired you to make your first gift to Washington and Lee University, and what motivates you to continue giving?
The Kathekon members were tabling outside of Elrod Commons my senior year and came running up to me in their matching blue shirts and said, “please make a donation.” I donated $5 because, at that time, I didn't know the impact or the need for alumni donations. After I paid my $5, I walked to class and reflected on all the gifts that W&L had given me, and it was the start of a new chapter of my relationship with W&L. I had taken so much from W&L— the people I had met, things I learned in and out of the classroom — but I knew that my role going forward as an alum would be to continue to donate and pave the way for the classes to come.
How do you hope your support impacts current and future generations of W&L students?
The ability for W&L to accept students on a need-blind basis is something that really sets Washington and Lee apart, and that helps students get in the door. Once they're students, there's still a lot of need — food, study abroad programs, athletics, clubs. Continuing to give allows students to have the resources they need to explore their passions in and outside of the classroom, so that they don't have any barriers to achieving their goals.
Is there a particular experience, faculty member or program at W&L that played a meaningful role in your decision to give back?
One of the things that makes Washington and Lee so special is that you're not bound by just being a student. I was able to participate in athletics, traveling abroad and taking classes off campus. The on-campus organization that had the biggest impact on me was, without a doubt, the Outing Club. My first picture at W&L was of James Dick and the three upperclassmen who led me on my pre-orientation trip on the Appalachian Trail. Any nerves that I had about making friends were quelled when I saw the incredible upperclassmen who had great stories to tell about the people they had met, the organizations they were involved in on campus and how genuinely excited they were to have the next class on campus. Before I even returned from the trip, I knew I was in the right spot for the next four years. I continued to stay involved with the Outing Club and led Outing Club trips for three years. The funding the university receives allows everyone to participate in this beautiful area and really learn more about themselves through doing activities that aren't just on campus.
Read more from the Why I Give series.