The Gift of Travel: Jonathan and Sheryl Layne - Emory College

Working with a development team, the Laynes established a unique“Adopt-a-Traveler” scholarship for undergraduates at Emory.The Gift of Travel: Jonathan and Sheryl LayneWhile Jonathan and Sheryl Layne wereequally committed to establishing theAdopt-a-Traveler program, they haddifferent reasons. For Sheryl, the fundwas another way to “pay it forward.”She and her family had been fortunateenough to travel extensively, and shesaw the program as a way to help giveamazing opportunities to deservingstudents. Sheryl’s participation in theprogram reflected her belief that travellinghelps students grow and enhancestheir educational experience beyondclassroom walls.For Jonathan, the value of studyingabroad was something he understoodfirsthand. As an undergraduate he spenta year studying abroad at universities inEngland and Poland. The experience, hesays, was deep, meaningful, and nothingshort of “life-altering.” Knowing howfall 2010 25

To the Laynes, giving back was not a form of reimbursement but an opportunityto convey a real thank you—to a place that had made a difference in their livesand was making a difference in the world.The Gift of Travel: Jonathan and Sheryl Layne (continued)Darcy Levit 90CPresident, Emory College Alumni Boardmany worthy and exceptional studentswere at Emory, Jonathan wanted to providesupport for those whose own goalsmight take them to distant surroundingsin search of new perspectives.The Laynes met at Emory. Over timethey embarked upon life’s adventurestogether and supported one other’sstudies and pursuits; they traveled, gotmarried, had a family. They had barelyleft campus before they began makingfinancial contributions to the University,as a way to give thanks for the supportand positive experiences they felt Emoryhad provided them. When the opportunityarose years later to design a givingprogram, the Laynes wanted their gift toinclude one essential component: travelabroadopportunities for students.Working with a developmentteam, the Laynes established a unique“Adopt-a-Traveler” scholarship forundergraduates at Emory. The new programcreated a mechanism to supportstudents who want to study outsideof the United States during the summer,but who otherwise might not be able todo so for financial reasons. To assist suchstudents, the Laynes bestowed a multiyeargift to sponsor one student’s travelexpenses each summer.To the Laynes, giving back was nota form of reimbursement but an opportunityto convey a real thank you—toa place that had made a difference intheir lives and was making a differencein the world.Like its sister program Adopt-a-Scholar, Adopt-a-Traveler pairs a generousbenefactor with an academicallygifted student and sends the donor aprofile of the scholar. As is often trueof these types of programs, strongbonds are forged between recipientsand donors. In the case of the Laynes’gift, the impact—and the experience ofstudying abroad—went far beyond eitherside’s expectations.Victoria Bell was the student withwhom the Laynes were paired. A doublemajor in biology and environmentalstudies with an impressive record ofUniversity service and extracurricularactivities, Victoria was the type ofengaged scholar that Emory is proud toeducate. The support provided by theLaynes enabled Victoria to backpackthrough Namibia and Botswana, trackingthe desert elephants of Africa fora research project. She had dreams ofa career in medicine and wrote to theLaynes about her work in a geneticslaboratory at Emory and her interest inresource management.To thank the Laynes, Victoria createda scrapbook of her experiences duringher summer abroad. She wanted herphotos and correspondence to showthem that they were, in fact, right therewith her as trekked through the Africancountryside. In her initial letter, shewrote: “Hopefully, this scrapbook canbe a window into what I experiencedand learned while I was abroad—andreassure you that your donation. . . willmake a difference for one lucky studentlike myself, just dying to have a life-alteringexperience.”As seasoned philanthropists, theLaynes had committed resources toEmory and other community organizationsfor years. But the experience offunding students through the Adopt-a-Traveler program brought unexpectedlevels of satisfaction. As Sheryl explains,“I just don’t think I realized the extentto which this would change a life—andhow happy it makes John and me toknow that. You have touched someone’slife in a meaningful way. Youhave made an impact on her, but you’rechanged too. She is one of the studentsat Emory who want to go out there andchange the world. And I am convincedthat they will.”Gratitude for opportunities extendedthirty years ago is benefitting students atEmory today, thanks to alumni like Sheryland Jonathan Layne. Through this programthe Laynes are not only thanking aninstitution but investing in students whowant to do good and to make a differencein the world.—Tiffany WorboyFor more information about how youcan help provide life-altering experiencesfor exceptional students like VictoriaBell, please contact the Emory CollegeDevelopment Office at artsandsciences@emory.edu or 866-MY-EMORY.Darcy Levit is the newly elected president of the Emory College AlumniBoard. With more than twenty years of experience coordinating volunteers andworking in nonprofit organizations, Darcy believes in the impact of volunteerand philanthropic leadership. She served as president of Volunteer Emory duringher senior year at Emory and earned an MS in policy studies from GeorgiaState University, positioning her for a career in the nonprofit arena.Most recently, Darcy has served as director of development at the PotomacConservancy and executive director of the Audubon Society of NorthernVirginia. Before that she was chief development officer at the NationalMuseum of Women in the Arts. Darcy has also volunteered in fundraising andcorporate development for Zoo Atlanta and the Atlanta Humane Society.Darcy lives in Northern Virginia, where with her children and standardpoodle she frequents local parks to hike, bike and observe the natural beautyof the area. She enjoys meeting Emory alumni in Washington, D.C., for visitsto art museums, theaters, live music and ballet performances. Her localvolunteer commitments have included park clean-up initiatives and hungerpreventionprograms.We’re excited to welcome seven newAlumni Board members in 2010-11Natascha French 02C (right) received a BA in journalism and internationalstudies from Emory and is the president and co-founder of the company “envy2the 9.” She has been very involved in professional and student committeesand as a member of the Emory Alumni in Washington, D.C., Chicago and LosAngeles. She lives in Beverly Hills.Leigh Friedman 05C graduated with a BA in journalism and theater studies.She was a member of several Emory honor societies and was president ofAlpha Delta Pi executive editor of the Wheel. A regional marketing managerfor ESPN, she resides in Baltimore and volunteers with numerous local charitiesand groups.Carlos Gonzalez 97C (right) received his BA in political science and NearEastern studies before graduating from Northwestern University School of Law.He is a partner in the firm Diaz, Reus & Targ with a specialty in litigation andinternational law. While at Emory, Carlos was honored with awards for debateand academic excellence. A member of the British American Business Counciland the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, he lives in Miami.26 fall 2010fall 2010 27

We’re excited to welcome seven new Alumni Boardmembers in 2010-11 (continued)Theron Jones 94C (left) received his BA in chemistry from Emory in 1994,a master’s of public policy from UCLA in 2000 and his doctorate of dentalmedicine in 2004 from the Medical College of Georgia. The owner ofSandtown Family Dentistry in Atlanta, Dr. Jones has volunteered with theAtlanta Youth Council, the American Cancer Society, Leadership in DiverseCommunities, The Carter Center, the Voting Rights Institute, and UCLA’sMinority Outreach Program.Jane Goodman Preiser 81C graduated with a BA in psychology fromEmory and received a master’s of health services administration from GeorgeWashington University. Her community involvement includes fundraising forGreens Farms Academy, the Westport Playhouse, a Near and Far outreach forthe homeless, and the United Way Campaign. Her daughter Alexandra isa freshman at Emory. Jane lives in Westport, Connecticut.Sanjiv Reej 95C earned his BA in English from Emory and a master’s ofhealthcare administration and MBA from Georgia State University. He currentlyworks in sales and marketing for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. A member ofthe Emory Wind Ensemble, Sanjiv has participated in Emory Career Network,Boston Emory Cares, and resides in Longmeadow, Maryland.Joshua Teplitzky 82C 86B 86L received his BA in political science, as well asbusiness and law degrees, from Emory. He is an attorney with Teplitzky andCompany specializing in tax law. Joshua is a member of the Emory ParentAssociation and the New York/Connecticut Alumni Association, and is vicepresident of the Hygeia Foundation. His daughter Taylor is a student at Emory.Joshua resides in Woodbridge, Connecticut.28 fall 2010