Why two sisters from Connecticut shifted their giving to HCC
Those pennies helped support the international humanitarian work of UNICEF (The United Nations Children’s Fund). But all these years later, the memory sticks with the sisters for a different reason. From a young age, they were instilled with a value that their parents and grandparents cared deeply about: charity.
Their father, Fred Barr, lived those values throughout his life. A World War II Navy veteran and electrical engineer with a warm sense of humor, Fred helped establish the nonprofit foundation at Norwalk Community College and remained deeply committed to making education accessible — and to ensuring his daughters could change a tire and handle life’s practical challenges themselves.
Decades later, while reading an article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Valerie was shocked to discover how much alumni giving goes to the wealthiest universities. She began to rethink her own philanthropic priorities.
“The rich get richer,” she said.
Valerie, a computer science professor and Mount Holyoke College alum, felt that giving to her alma mater was not having as big an impact as it could elsewhere. Living and working in the Pioneer Valley, she was familiar with Holyoke Community College and the students it served. After doing some research on the HCC website, Valerie decided to make a donation to the Kathryn “Kitty” Broman Scholarship, which supports adult women studying at HCC. The more Valerie got involved with Holyoke Community College, the more she could see the results of her giving.
“[Our father] believed everybody is entitled to an education, and he would be pleased to know that people are getting a scholarship in his memory.”
Elissa Barr
“Community colleges have a very real impact on people’s lives,” Valerie said. “A student’s education could be derailed because they can’t buy a new tire for their car, but targeted support helps make it possible for that student to continue their education.”
Elissa, a Simmons College alum, had her own eye-opening moment while visiting Portland, Oregon. The professional calligrapher based in Northampton, Massachusetts, was attending a conference at Reed College and noticed that whatever food the students in the cafeteria chose not to eat could be left in a designated area for the students who could not afford a meal plan.
“I stopped and I talked to these students,” Elissa said. “They said there was no easy way for them to get food. I became more and more aware of what was going on in colleges with students who just can’t make ends meet and want an education desperately.”
When Elissa relayed this story to her sister, Valerie told her about all the work Holyoke Community College was doing to combat food insecurity. Pretty soon, Elissa became an annual donor, designating her contributions to the Thrive Center and Food Pantry and to the college’s “area of greatest need,” which allows HCC to direct funds where they’re needed most.
As Elissa and Valerie watched their philanthropic impact grow at Holyoke Community College, they faced a difficult reality closer to home: their father’s health was failing.
As his daughters helped get his affairs in order, they approached Fred with a request. He had several organizations designated as beneficiaries in his estate plans, including a university. They asked if he would consider changing his estate to support HCC instead, and he graciously obliged.
“Community colleges have a very real impact on people’s lives. A student’s education could be derailed because they can’t buy a new tire for their car, but targeted support helps make it possible for that student to continue their education.”
Valerie Barr
Following his passing in November 2024 at age 98, the Barrs worked with the HCC Foundation to establish the Fred M. Barr Endowed Scholarship from his estate, ensuring his legacy will support students for generations to come. The scholarship gives preferences to a visual art major (in honor of Elissa, the calligrapher) or a STEM major (in honor of Valerie, now the Margaret Hamilton Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at Bard College).
The estate gift also supports expenses for students who participate in the college’s annual Innovation Challenge entrepreneurship competition and the purchase of laptop computers students can borrow from the HCC Library.
“The Barr family has been, and will be, incredibly helpful to so many HCC students far into the future,” said John Sieracki, leadership gift officer and manager of campaign initiatives.
For Valerie and Elissa, knowing their father’s values live on through HCC students brings comfort.
“He believed everybody is entitled to an education, and he would be pleased to know that people are getting a scholarship in his memory,” Elissa said.
