Philanthropy

 

In addition to his work with Bench Walk Advisors, Stuart Grant devotes much of his time to his charitable foundation and various philanthropic activities.

Grant and his wife, Suzanne B. Grant, formed the I Could Do Great Things Foundation in 2009 to support a range of social initiatives related to education and projects that strengthen communities in Delaware where the couple are primarily based.

The Grants are significant supporters of Jewish causes both locally (in Delaware) and worldwide.  The Grants established the Stuart & Suzanne Grant Center of Excellence at the University of Delaware Hillel, making UD one of the first four Hillels in the country to have a Center of Excellence. The Grants are also a mainstay in the Jewish community in Delaware as a major supporter of the Jewish Federation of Delaware and Congregation Beth Shalom. The Grants also provided an initial gift to an initiative headquartered at Tulane University that fosters academic collaboration between U.S. and Israeli universities to address shared energy challenges.

Grant is a former trustee of the University of Delaware and the Grants donated $1 million in 2013 for the development of an equine studies program at University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Today, there are over 75 students enrolled in the equine minor program. The Grants continue to be supportive of the equine program with internships and with the equine capstone class being taught, in large part, on the Grants farm near campus.

The Grants have also been the major benefactor of the University of Delaware soccer program.  A former NCAA soccer referee in his earlier days, Stuart and his wife donate $1.5 million to renovate the University of Delaware soccer facility which, in 2014, was renamed the Stuart M. and Suzanne B. Grant Stadium to honor the couple.  At the time, it represented the largest gift in the history of the University of Delaware athletics.

The Grants are also supporters of The Franklin Institute, founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin. It is one of the oldest and premier centers of science education and development in the country. The Grants were named to The Benjamin Franklin Legacy Society.

Through their foundation the Grants established the Beau Biden Memorial Scholarship in memory of their dear friend Beau Biden.  The Scholarship is awarded to the Delaware high school student who best exemplifies the character traits of Beau.  The selection panel is comprised of Stuart, Suzanne and several members of the Biden family.