A Heart for Giving Back: A Journey from Student to Scholarship Benefactor
When Denise Donofrio ’73 first set foot on Saint Mary’s campus in the fall of 1969, the world was changing rapidly. Vietnam, Woodstock, and a growing spirit of student engagement were reshaping how young people experienced college life. During this historic period, Denise found something steady and meaningful in a community that helped shape who she would become.
Her choice to attend Saint Mary’s College wasn’t a mystery. Her older sister was already a student, and as Denise jokes, her father had one major rule: college had to be within three hours of Chicago if she wanted to come home at any time other than Christmas. But beyond proximity, it was something deeper that drew her in.
“I had been visiting the school since seventh grade,” Denise said. “It just made an impression on me. I applied to other schools but this one had my heart.”
Denise’s heart found a home in the Humanistic Studies program, a major that emphasized critical thinking, writing, and understanding the human experience. A central part of that experience was one professor in particular, Dr. Bruno P. Schlesinger, known simply as "Bruno" to many of his students.
Denise worked for Bruno for two years and speaks of him with an admiration that remains undimmed. “He was really concerned about what we would do after graduation,” she said. “Every week during our senior year, he would ask, ‘What are you going to do when you graduate?’ Not because he wanted a quick answer, but because he cared that we had a focus.”
Bruno’s wisdom extended beyond the classroom. He understood that while technical skills could be taught on the job, the ability to write, think critically, and engage with the world were irreplaceable. His mentorship left such a mark on Denise that decades later, while walking through art museums in Europe, she would think of him. “He taught us how art, history, and human thought all connected,” she said. “It wasn’t an ordinary education.”
Denise’s Saint Mary’s experience continued to impact her long after graduation. She pursued a career in business and she was fortunate enough to retire at the young age of 48. However, for Denise, retirement didn’t mean slowing down. She poured her time and energy into volunteer work, in breast cancer advocacy and support, for her Church, her library, and for Saint Mary’s.
Denise’s desire to give back was instilled early on by her parents, whom she calls “the greatest in the world.” Coming from a solid middle class family, they always found ways to give whether with time, talent, or treasure.
“We were taught to save, to spend wisely, and to give back,” Denise said.
It’s no surprise, then, that giving has been a lifelong practice for Denise. She has supported Saint Mary’s College for over 50 years. But recently, she felt called to do something more. “You wake up one day and you’re in your 70s. How did that happen?”, she asked herself. After thoughtful reflection, she established a scholarship to support young women who might not otherwise have the chance to attend college.
“To provide a scholarship to a young woman who might not have the same opportunities I had, well, that may be as much a gift to me as it is to her,” Denise said.
Denise funded the scholarship through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from her Individual Retirement Account (IRA). This is an easy and oftentimes tax beneficial way for individuals over 70-1⁄2 to support Saint Mary’s and other nonprofits that are important to them. For Denise, the choice made sense.
Denise is quick to emphasize that the story isn’t about financial capacity, it’s about values and timing.
Denise’s hope is that others, including her fellow graduates from the class of 1973, might see the impact they can make, even if they think it’s out of reach.
“You look back after years of giving and think, maybe I can do something a little more substantial,” she said. “And if enough of us do that, just imagine what we could accomplish.”
Through her scholarship, she’s doing just that by investing in future generations, expanding access to education, and continuing the legacy of care and critical thought that shaped her life all those years ago.
“Saint Mary’s College gave me more than an education,” Denise said. “It helped me understand the world, and my place in it. Now, I get to help someone else do the same.”
October 2, 2025