Molly Rees Gavin '71, DAA '11
Paying It Forward with Estate Planning

As a high school teenager, Molly Rees Gavin dreamed of becoming a social worker. Her parents, both social workers, shared stories around the dinner table about the people they had met and helped during the Great Depression. Looking back on her undergraduate years, Molly remembers being surrounded by "enlightened faculty who provided extraordinary opportunities for the students to pursue field work." The rigorous academic curriculum at Saint Joe's laid the groundwork for Molly to pursue her master's degree in social work at Rutgers University and a distinguished career as President of Connecticut Community Care. Molly previously served on the General Assembly Long Term Care Advisory Council and was named Connecticut's Social Worker of the Year. Molly continues to stay engaged with her alma mater as a guest lecturer, a member of the Social Work Advisory Committee and a USJ Ambassador. Molly has included the University of Saint Joseph in her estate plans because "we have a moral responsibility to pay it forward." Her generous gift will help other young women and men fulfill their dreams of becoming social workers and making a difference in the lives of others.