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Schools

Donor Gives Financial, Emotional Support to Rosemont College

Eleanor Weisbrod gave a number of gifts to the school.

Eleanor Weisbrod was a special benefactor to Rosemont College—she donated more than $700,000 during her lifetime, and left more than $5 million to the school when she passed away in 2008.

That money provided three scholarships and many improvements to the campus, and Weisbrod also built relationships with those that received those gifts.

Weisbrod graduated from Georgian Court University in 1944. She was successful in the fields of science and education and volunteered at hospitals and libraries in her area. She started a relationship with Rosemont College because of her sister, Sr. Helen Mary Weisbrod, SHCJ, director of financial aid at the school from 1980 until her death in 1987.

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Weisbrod was connected to the school because of her sister, but that is not the only reason why she gave to Rosemont.

“Eleanor came to see Rosemont as a special place particularly because she placed great value on both education and her Catholic faith,” Rosemont College Public Relations Manager Lauren McDonnell wrote in an email.

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Even though she never went to Rosemont College, she agreed very strongly with their religious and educational beliefs, McDonnell wrote.

Weisbrod formed a special relationship with her scholarship recipients by visiting campus and keeping in contact with them even after they finished their time at Rosemont.

Weisbrod provided “emotional, not just financial support” for students, scholarship recipient Lauren Curtis, Class of 2005, said in a press release.

In addition to the scholarships, Weisbrod also provided money for a remodeling of the school library’s lobby and reference room. Called "Remembering Sister Helen Mary Weisbrod, SHCJ Information Commons," the new reference room “aims to promote teamwork and new technology with group study areas and laptop computers,” according to a press release.

"Eleanor’s Café," a snack shop inside the new Information Commons, is named in memory of Weisbrod for her gift to the school. The renovations were completed in August 2010.

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