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Ensuring Equitable Access to Education

Judy McBroom

Judy McBroom ’64

The time Judy McBroom ’64 spent behind the Red Brick Wall was instrumental to the person she is today.

“It was the foundation for the rest of my life,” said Judy, who recently made a gift to the College to help create that same foundation for a new generation of students. “The emphasis on personal relationships between students and between students and faculty was so important. I felt really supported by the College.”

The Judith Hall McBroom ’64 Endowed Fund to Advance Racial Justice will support first-year bridge programs, including Summer Transition at Randolph (STAR), that are dedicated to helping high school graduates transition into college life. It will also be used to bring in speakers and sponsor events focusing on racial justice.

“Our country has not dealt with the issue of racial inequities, systemic inequities in our system,” Judy said. “We have a history we haven’t really struggled with, in terms of incorporating the true view of history into our national consciousness. More broadly, I want the fund to be used to create constructive dialogue, enrich civic engagement and educate the community on issues of racial justice and white privilege.”

Her interest in supporting STAR was inspired by a scholarship, named for Martin Luther King Jr., that is offered annually in her Seattle-area neighborhood. She was a founding member of the group that created it 40 years ago.

“I became aware of how often first-year students in college, particularly minority students and poor students, drop out,” said Judy, a former high school English teacher. “It’s just too big of a leap, and they need additional support.”

STAR, which was created in 2019, offers that support through a mix of academic and social activities—a concept Kim Sheldon, Randolph’s director of student success, often refers to as scaffolding.

“That word comes out of educational research, and it is a big part of what our students need right now, especially coming off of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kim said. “Their experiences in high school may have been very chaotic. All of the support we have in place in the bridge from the summer to the first semester and beyond help to lift them up.”

STAR students arrive on campus early each fall and spend two weeks earning academic credits, familiarizing themselves with campus, meeting faculty and staff, and getting to know their classmates. They do coursework focused on building academic skills necessary for college-level work and participate in daily study halls and meetings with tutors.

“Having those two weeks to get accustomed to campus were invaluable,” said Patience Wallace ’25, who participated this fall. “I think I would’ve struggled to adjust to moving in, having orientation and then going straight into classes. I’d recommend it to all incoming freshmen, particularly ones that may have been homeschooled or deal with anxiety and adjusting to new situations.”

With the new funding, Kim wants to expand STAR beyond the first semester and focus more deeply on helping underserved populations.

“The STAR program is transformational,” Kim said. “Students who participate build confidence in themselves as students and Randolph community members. I wish every first-year student could have this opportunity.”

Judy’s gift will make a real difference to students, said Marianne Ramsey, director for principal and planned giving.

“Programs like STAR aim to improve student outcomes and ensure that factors like race, ethnicity and income do not determine who is successful at Randolph,” she added. “We are deeply grateful to Judy for her generous investment in STAR and her commitment to ensuring equitable access to education for our students.”

Make a Lasting Difference

Like Judy, you can plan a legacy that creates opportunities for future generations of students. To learn more about making a gift that supports your passion at the College, contact The Planned Giving Office at 434-485-8050 or plannedgiving@randolphcollege.edu.

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

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A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Randolph College a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

 Bequest Language

"I give, devise, and bequeath to the Trustees of Randolph College (founded as Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1891), a corporation located in Lynchburg, Virginia (the College), the sum of $_____ dollars [or property, securities, etc.], to be used for [describe the purpose in as broad and simple terms as possible], or in the event that such use shall in the judgment of the Board of Trustees of the College become impracticable, said trustees may use the bequest for other purposes as nearly akin to the original purpose as they judge will help advance the aims of the College."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the College or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate, or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property, or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the College as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the College as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the College where you agree to make a gift to the College and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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