For the Love of Spelman
When Being Lifted Comes Full Circle
Lindsey Grays, C’2009, knows firsthand what it means to be lifted by the Spelman community. At a pivotal moment in her student journey, generosity enabled her to persist—and years later, that same love inspired her to give back. What follows is Grays’ reflection on the generosity that sustained her—and the purpose that guides her giving today.
Lindsey's reflection: During a Historically Black College and University tour, I stepped onto Spelman’s campus for the first time. Everything was meticulous—sacred—and at sixteen years old, I was stunned. What would it take to be here? I thought. In that moment, I made it my mission to find out.
I was one of only a handful of Black young women in my high school class, and among even fewer who dared to imagine a future beyond what we could immediately see. I applied early decision and was accepted. I was a Spelmanite. And then life shifted, the way it sometimes does.
One Act of Support Can Change a Lifetime
My dad passed away from complications related to cancer just after my freshman year at Spelman. In the months that followed, my family’s finances were stretched thin, just as the United States entered what would become one of the harshest economic periods in modern history.
I did not know whether I would be able to remain at Spelman—let alone graduate. And then a bridge appeared: the President’s Safety Net Fund, specifically its Starfish Initiative.
The initiative is rooted in a familiar allegory: a little girl walking along a beach after a storm, overwhelmed by the number of starfish stranded on the sand. She begins throwing them back into the ocean, one at a time. And when a passerby tells her she cannot possibly save them all, she throws another back and replies, “I helped that one.”
Because of someone’s generosity, I was one of the starfish returned to the ocean. And that lift made all the difference.
Today, I am honored to give to ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ in support of the President’s Safety Net Fund—the very fund that once changed the trajectory of my life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to give through my employee matching program, designed to magnify causes rooted in employees’ lived experience. While many communities have shaped me, I chose Spelman again.
The Enduring Power of Sisterhood, Service, and Showing Up When It Matters Most
I hope it reminds my fellow Spelman alumnae of the responsibility—and the privilege—we share: to lift others as we were lifted.
Many of us remember those moments when the path forward felt fragile, and the relief of a helping hand appearing just in time. Now, we get to be that hand.
Spelman chooses you long before you know it. And once she does, your commitment—to her and to your sisters—becomes a lifelong one. I am honored to uphold that sacred bond. It is my honor to support the President’s Safety Net Fund today and in the years to come.
About Lindsey
Lindsey Grays, C’2009, is a communications leader, storyteller, and advocate for community-centered work. She currently serves as a communications officer at the Gates Foundation.
As a proud Spelman alumna, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a leader within Jack and Jill of America, Inc., she has dedicated professional and personal space to elevating narratives that honor Black women, family, and service. Grays resides in Washington with her husband and their son.
Empower Future Leaders
Show your support during this season of love and join Lindsey Grays in honoring Spelman’s future and the generations of women yet to come by making a gift today. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a profound difference in the lives of Spelman women.