One year ago, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being at Barnard College marked the beginning of a new chapter for student wellness, leadership, and financial fluency.

For our founder, Francine LeFrak, a Barnard trustee and life-long philanthropist, the opening of the Center represented more than the launch of a new campus initiative. It was the realization of a vision rooted in empowerment, inclusion, and access. A place where women could build the physical, mental, and financial foundation necessary to lead with confidence and a model that could be carried to other institutions.

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Today, nearly one year after the official opening of the Francine LeFrak Center, the impact is already being felt throughout the Barnard community and beyond.

The Center welcomed more than 60,000 visits during its first year, becoming one of the most dynamic hubs on campus for wellness, connection, and growth.  

Built on three pillars — physical well-being, mental well-being, and financial well-being — the Francine LeFrak Center has created a new model for holistic student support in higher education.

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A Vision for Well-Being at Barnard

When Francine LeFrak was invited to help envision a more comprehensive approach to student wellness at Barnard, she believed the opportunity extended far beyond traditional programming.

She believed well-being should be integrated into every aspect of student life.

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That vision became the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being, a transformative space where students are encouraged to prioritize not only academic success, but also personal resilience, financial confidence, and community support.

In just one year, the Center has recorded:

• 34,583 fitness center visits
• 2,217 wellness and fitness class sessions
• 828 wellness conversations designed to reduce stigma and increase support
• More than 100 Financial Fluency Certificate graduates  

What makes the Francine LeFrak Center unique is its understanding that leadership and well-being are deeply connected.

When students feel supported physically, mentally, and financially, they are better equipped to thrive in every area of life.

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Financial Fluency as a Pathway to Empowerment

One of the most impactful initiatives launched during the Center’s inaugural year has been the Financial Fluency Certificate Program.

Created to make financial education accessible and approachable, the program brought together Barnard students for an intensive eight-week experience focused on budgeting, credit, savings, investing, and long-term financial planning.

The sessions were led by LeFrak Financial Student Ambassadors, creating a peer-to-peer environment where students felt comfortable asking questions, learning together, and building confidence.

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For Francine LeFrak, financial fluency is one of the most important forms of empowerment.

“When a woman takes responsibility for her finances, she has power.”

Students from the inaugural cohort reflected on the transformative nature of the program.

Merielen Espino ’26, a LeFrak Financial Ambassador, shared:

“It is a privilege to take control of one’s financial future. I hope to assist and empower others in their financial journeys and ensure they make their financial goals possible.”

Shannon Geraghty ’25 reflected on how becoming financially literate helped her envision a stronger future for herself and her family as a first-generation student.

Michaela Gary ’25 used the program to begin building generational wealth, opening a Roth IRA and planning for long-term financial independence.

Gabriela Sarahi Martinez Rodriguez ’28, an international student, described the program as an essential introduction to navigating the U.S. financial system and building confidence in her future.

Together, these stories reflect the mission of the Francine LeFrak Center: helping women gain the tools, confidence, and knowledge to lead their lives with purpose.

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A Model Built to Be Replicated

The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation has long believed that philanthropy is most impactful when it creates replicable models for change.

Over the past year, the Barnard Center for Well-Being has demonstrated how colleges and universities can rethink student support through a more integrated and human-centered lens.

The Center is not simply a wellness facility.

It is a community.

A gathering place where students feel invited to show up fully as themselves.

A space where mental health conversations are normalized, financial education is prioritized, and wellness is recognized as essential infrastructure for leadership.

As Francine LeFrak reflected in the Foundation’s 2025 Impact Report:

“Working in proximity is powerful. When we meet people where they are and truly listen, even to the simplest need, we find the key that opens a door to a fulfilling life.”  

Looking Ahead

Nearly one year after the ribbon cutting and official opening, the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being continues to redefine what student support can look like at Barnard and beyond.

The Center stands as a reflection of Francine LeFrak’s enduring commitment as a Barnard trustee, philanthropist, and advocate for women’s empowerment.

Most importantly, it stands as proof that when institutions invest in the whole person — physically, mentally, and financially — students do more than succeed academically.

They gain the confidence to lead.

And that impact will continue for generations to come.

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