Founders' History: Robert and Jane A. Sharpe
Robert Sharpe Sr. believed that everyone has the capacity and obligation to contribute to the public good. To his many friends and colleagues, he often cited his mother's belief that we should "give a dime for every dollar" we have.
A former member of the William & Mary Endowment Association, Sharpe's commitment to public service was the driving force behind his life's work. Before his sudden death in 2000, Bob Sharpe, was a recognized expert in philanthropy, and he set the wheels in motion to see his life's work fulfilled. The Sharpe Community Scholars Program and Sharpe Professorship of Civic Renewal are named for Sharpe and his wife, Jane A. Sharpe, of Memphis, Tennessee.
Through the vision and generosity of Bob and Jane Sharpe, first-year students selected as Sharpe Community Scholars have opportunities to connect community engagement to academic study and develop the intellectual skills and disposition to make a meaningful difference in the places where they live and work.
