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Greenville Business Magazine

USC Upstate Announces $1.6 Million Philanthropic Gift

Nov 19, 2018 12:03PM ● By Kathleen Maris

The University of South Carolina Upstate has announced a new $1.6 million gift that honors the legacy of the late Barbara Hastings, Ph.D., who served for more than 20 years as a professor in the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics. Among many other contributions, she is credited with starting a foreign exchange program with Germany, which continues today. Hastings died Oct. 7, 2017 at her home in Saluda. Her contribution is the largest planned gift ever received by the USC Upstate Foundation.

“We are grateful to Dr. Hastings for her vision, commitment to the university, and incredible generosity,” said USC Upstate Chancellor Brendan Kelly. “Gifts like this one help ensure that USC Upstate meets its strategic goals to deliver education excellence and career-ready graduates; to attract, develop, and retain exceptional faculty and staff; and positively impact the well-being of the Upstate.”

“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to announce a gift of this magnitude from one of our own faculty members,” said Dr. Meredith Brunen, USC Upstate’s vice chancellor for university advancement and executive director of the Foundation. “Barbara’s gift of more than $1.6 million will be added to an endowment begun by her mother, Martha McRae Hastings, to bring the total endowment to more than $1.8 million.” 

Proceeds from the endowment will fund international travel and study abroad experiences for USC Upstate students, as well as support an endowed position focused on international business. The gift comes as the College works to expand its program offerings in Germany, Spain, China, Canada, and France.

The gift announcement was part of a short program that preceded one of a number of events hosted by the College this week as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Friends of Hastings have commented that she remained committed to USC Upstate long after she retired, and that she would have been pleased to see the growing impact of the college and the university at large.

“Dr. Hastings’ inspirational gift is a shining example of what is possible when individuals are forward-thinking and passionate about making a difference even after they’re gone,” said Brunen.