Maryanne Trump Barry, the 78-year old sister of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, donated $4 Million to Fairfield University in Connecticut last Wednesday. Donald Trump's sister, Maryanne, is a 3rd United States Circuit Court of Appeals federal judge in Pennsylvania.
According to ABC News, the Jesuit university in Connecticut released a statement indicating that she gave the gift as a sign of gratitude to Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx and his accomplishments - specifically, the Center for Ignatian Spirituality that was founded in 2014 - as Fairfield's president for twelve years, who is now stepping down.
Maryanne Barry said, "I am sad for this loss to Fairfield and pray for the continuation of the Jesuit mission and the Jesuit identity, which Father von Arx has not only preserved, but has so successfully championed over these twelve years."
"My gifts to causes in which I believe have almost always been anonymous," she said. "I make a rare exception here because I have been so moved by the difference that Father von Arx and his presidency have made in so many ways in the lives of so many young people, and because I believe that, in founding the Center for Ignatian Spirituality in 2014, Father von Arx has assured that Ignatian spirituality will guide those at Fairfield, and even worldwide, who seek the gift it so uniquely can provide, while it continues to inform and influence the environment of learning at Fairfield."
Primarily, the donation will finance the Center for Ignatian Spirituality and coincide scholarships for students enrolling in Fairfield University.
"I am truly honored and humbled by Judge Barry's gift," Rev. von Arx said. "The scholarships make possible the dreams of many worthy young men and women, and the Center will help meet the needs of today's world, while renewing the formative prayer tradition at the heart of the mission of the Society of Jesus; indeed, the mission of the Center is to provide spiritual direction to the community, and to train spiritual directors - both lay and religious - in the tradition of Ignatian prayer," as stated by CT Post.
Barry is a long time supporter of the university, in where she received an honorary degree, and a Jesuit teaching advocate.
