“The greatest philanthropy is the dignity of work.” — Francine A. LeFrak
This week, we spotlight philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and women’s rights advocate Francine A. LeFrak, whose lifelong mission to empower women has reached a new milestone.
Francine’s work has transformed lives — from survivors of the Rwandan genocide to women re-entering society after incarceration in the U.S. — through Same Sky and the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation. Her focus: creating real pathways out of poverty through education, job training, and financial empowerment.
Now, her legacy takes physical shape at Barnard College, with the grand opening of the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being — a first-of-its-kind hub designed to support students through a three-pillar approach: physical, mental, and financial wellness.
“My life changed when I took control of my finances. I know the empowerment that comes from understanding your money — how to earn it, save it, invest it, and grow it. Financial fluency gives young women real power.” — Francine A. LeFrak
The Center is already proving transformational. LeFrak Financial Ambassador Gabriella Sarahi Martinez Rodriguez ’28 shared how the space helped her thrive as a first-generation student adjusting to life in the U.S.:
“I had no idea how to navigate life [in America] in a way that would allow me to thrive financially, emotionally, or otherwise, but here I found a space that changed the way I [will leave] Barnard,” said Rodriguez.
“That is the wave of change happening here — women learning to walk into rooms that have been historically excluded from, not just with knowledge but with power.”
More than a building, the Center is a model for holistic education that prepares students for life beyond the classroom. It’s also a deeply personal tribute to Francine’s mother, Ethel S. LeFrak ’41, whose name now graces the Center’s theatre.
“This Center is a dream realized. And it’s just the beginning. My hope is that this becomes a model for campuses everywhere, because well-being is leadership.” — Francine A. LeFrak
📍 Why it matters: Francine A. LeFrak is not just building programs — she’s building power, leadership, and resilience for the next generation. And she’s showing what real impact looks like when philanthropy meets purpose.
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