Andrew Brown ’77 Inspires Wave of Philanthropy at Pomona

Some of you may have heard the story of Andrew Brown ’77, whose incredible journey of philanthropy began with just $20. Last year, Andrew celebrated an incredible milestone — 45 consecutive years of giving to Pomona College’s Annual Fund.

His story inspired “Give like Andrew,” a new effort to encourage fellow alumni to support the College. And guess what? Sagehens responded in a big way, with alumni showing support like never before.

“My Pomona experience has served me in every aspect of my life,” Andrew says. “How could I not give back to a place that has given me so much?”

Gifts to the Annual Fund, like Andrew’s, directly address the College’s most pressing needs and fuel academic excellence, faculty-student research, scholarships, study-away programs, career development and more, ensuring every Sagehen has equal access and opportunities to succeed.

It All Started with $20

An East Coast native, Andrew grew up just north of New York City, in Westchester County. By the time he started applying for college — having heard of Pomona through a friend and inspired by California’s sunny disposition — Andrew knew it was where he was destined to go.

He made his way to Pomona with plans to major in economics but found himself uninspired by the subject after his sophomore year. He decided to take a gap year, where he discovered a deep affinity for Russian history and literature. He returned to Pomona with a newfound purpose.

Pomona did not offer a Russian Studies major at the time, so Andrew created his own academic path by selecting courses across the consortium that focused on Russian history, language, economics and literature.

“What resonated with me was the holistic kind of learning. It’s not just about studying what will get you that job after college,” says Andrew. “It’s about getting to absorb all that you can across disciplines — which is the true value of a liberal arts education.” Andrew’s plan was a success and he graduated from Pomona as a Russian Studies major.

After graduation, Andrew put that degree to good use when he started interviewing Russian immigrants for the federal government. In 1980, he decided to leave that job and attend business school to pursue a career in finance.

That same summer, as an unemployed 25-year-old, Andrew decided to give $20 to the Annual Fund. “Even then, I knew on a fundamental level, Pomona had forever shaped me as a person,” he says.

Since then, Andrew has contributed to the Annual Fund every single year, establishing one of the longest consecutive giving streaks in Pomona’s history. However, Andrew’s contributions to the College extend far beyond donations. He served on the Alumni Association Board, remains active in the New York Alumni Regional Chapter and helped organize his 45^th and 47^th class reunions.

While Andrew is enjoying retirement, he shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to volunteering and supporting the College. “Giving back to Pomona is a way to acknowledge the experiences, education and friendships that the College provided me,” says Andrew.