Champions for Philanthropy Provide for Future Generations
For more than 30 years, Mary L. Dupont '68, '93H and her husband Robert K. Decelles have generously supported Bryant.
Dupont credits her Bryant education as being integral to her successful 33-year career with accounting giant KPMG, where she served as partner-in-charge of human resources in 1990, the first woman to hold this senior management position at any of the "Big Six" accounting firms. Later, as an international tax partner, she was responsible for creating a single worldwide tax consulting process for the firm.
Drawing on the leadership skills developed at KPMG and through her civic board memberships, Dupont helped create the EfforTZ Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to provide quality education to impoverished children in the East African country of Tanzania.
Sharing her story with Bryant students majoring in marketing, entrepreneurship, and global studies, Dupont urges them to think broadly about how they might make a difference in the world.
As a tribute to Bryant, Dupont and Decelles have established an annual scholarship, made a multi-year pledge to endow their scholarship, and have each made bequests in their estate plans to add to this scholarship.
Members of Bryant's 1863 Society, which recognizes the year of Bryant's founding and honors individuals who have provided for Bryant through their estate plan or a life income gift, the couple has included a gift to Bryant in their will. It ensures the important legacy of their endowed scholarship will continue into the future.
Their philanthropy ensures that future generations of Bryant students will benefit from an unmatched education that anticipates the future in a changing world.
Bryant University honored Mary Dupont and Robert Decelles as Champions for Philanthropy and presented them with the Outstanding 1863 Society Members Award for 2014.