Sweet Briar donors commit $5 million, launching Phillip C. Stone Legacy Challenge

Sweet Briar College is announcing the Phillip C. Stone Legacy Challenge to honor the president’s leadership over the last two years. The special challenge was established by a small group of donors with individual gifts of $250,000 and above. As a salute to President Stone, the group has pledged a total of $5 million and is now challenging fellow supporters to match that amount.



The challenge is part of an effort to return Sweet Briar to a position of financial strength, with a goal of $20 million in unrestricted funds by June 30. As of March 15, alumnae and friends of the College had already contributed more than $8.5 million in gifts and pledges.

The challenge comes just weeks before President-elect Meredith Woo takes the reins from Stone, who stepped in as president in July 2015.

“President Stone helped save the College from closure and put Sweet Briar on sound financial footing,” said Mary Pope Hutson ’83, vice president for alumnae relations and development. “The greatest gift we can give him as he departs Sweet Briar is our continued commitment to the College’s perpetuity.”