Our first endowment! Annual Scholarship in Honor of Mary Tatarka
What began in the 60s in New Orleans, at the Adult Education Center under Dr. Alice Geoffray’s guidance, was a commitment to social change through education. That same commitment redeveloped when the 431 Exchange was founded by Dr. Geoffray’s family in 2018. Their mission is education scholarships for adults in Louisiana determined to improve their wellbeing and financial capacity through education and career development.
Those who share the belief that education enables, empowers, and endures, have shown their support for the 431 Exchange’s values and mission through donations and grants, enabling the organization to provide more scholarships than ever. We’re proud to be the recent recipient of the 431 Exchange’s first Endowment.
Mary Tatarka
The Endowment, a generous gift honoring Mary Elizabeth Tatarka, is from her husband, Dan Foe. Dan described Mary as “Progressive, a woman who spent her career working for social justice, caring for handicapped children and the disadvantaged. Mary believed in social justice and the power of education. She was the first of her family to attend college, and her training changed the trajectory of her life.”
Mary’s life touched countless people across the United States and the world. Dan’s gift will as well. Time and wise investments will enable us to award an annual scholarship in Mary’s name and ensure future generations committed to an education can be scholarship winners, to develop their careers and build financial security. Join us in meeting Mary!
Mary earned a physical therapy degree at St. Louis University, then headed to Portland where she joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, a mission-oriented program similar to AmeriCorps, for young Catholics inspired to help others. In addition to other JVC projects, Mary provided physical therapy to children. Because the therapy was often painful for her young patients, Mary transformed herself into a clown, entertaining her young patients so they were able to endure the therapy they needed. In fact, she is still remembered by hundreds of children of all ages in the Northwest for her amazing antics and invaluable help.
Mary’s wanderlust took her to Europe. She returned to Seattle, WA, to resume treating severely handicapped young patients. Over time, Mary traveled throughout the US and the world helping train caregivers and setting up centers for children Down Syndrome.
Ultimately, Mary earned her Master's and Ph.D. in Applied Statistics from the University of Puget Sound, where she joined the faculty in the Fall of 1998. Her graduate work was done at the University of Washington. Sadly, Mary died of a brain aneurysm at the age of 49.
Those who knew Mary knew how she filled her life with learning, never stopped helping others, and loved teaching. Because she embraced the power of education, she was an enthusiastic and rigorous teacher who understood that learning so often inspired and transformed people, and its impact was contagious! The 431 Exchange is extremely thankful that Mary Elizabeth Tatarka’s innate understanding of the value of education aligns with its mission. May the power of education enlighten and enliven so many lives, as Mary’s did.