Good evening. I’m Elizabeth Donahoo Bishop, class of ’92. It is a great privilege to present the Patrick Hayes Reunion Gift to Hollins University.

Patrick Hayes was a very dear and dedicated friend to my family. He had a great love for Virginia and William & Mary. Consequently, he spent many weekends here on the Hollins campus visiting on his way to Williamsburg. He attended parents weekend in the fall and, of course, my graduation. He visited me in London during my semester abroad.

Patrick Hayes appreciated fine things and recognized true beauty. So it is no surprise that he fell in love with Hollins and the extraordinary women he met through the year.

Upon my graduation, Pat set up a trust. This trust would ensure that this group of Hollins women that he had grown so fond of could continue to see one another once a year and nurture the special friendship that had begun here at Hollins. We took full advantage of this opportunity to get together every year after graduation!

Here we are 25 years later. We have all been in each other’s weddings. We are Godparents to each other’s children. I even gained a sister-in-law, Jennifer Wake Donahoo.

It seems fitting and appropriate that his gift go back to Hollins where it all began and we give it in honor of Patrick Hayes.

We are grateful to Hollins for the extraordinary education and opportunities that have made us the women we are today. We are incredibly grateful for our four years here, though they went too fast and we are grateful for the lifelong friendship we have made.

Tonight, we are especially grateful for the generosity and unique vision of Patrick Hayes and his gift. He recognized the truth and beauty of friendship.

We hope this story and the Patrick Hayes Reunion Trust will inspire others to recognize those same timeless truths.