The reasons people give are as varied as the individuals making the gifts. Some make financial commitments to Furman to remember a loved one. Some give to advance a program or major of study. Still others see financial giving as a way to perpetuate what they deeply believe in. But no matter the specific motivation, each donor gives because they want to invest in something – and a future – that’s much bigger than themselves.

For Henry Barton and Melanie (Dodd) Barton, both members of the class of 1984, an investment in The Furman Advantage is what drives their gift earmarked for scholarship support and for those with financial need.

Henry Barton ’84 and Melanie Dodd Barton ’84.

Their backgrounds set the stage for how they would make decisions on giving decades later. Henry, a Greenville, South Carolina, native and political science graduate, comes from a long line of Furman alumni, including his father, grandfather, great aunt, uncle and many cousins. Political science and history alumna Melanie, on the other hand, is a first-generation graduate from Alpharetta, Georgia. Their children – Chandler and Hannah – graduated Furman in 2013 and 2018, respectively. Chandler married Elizabeth Koppang, who graduated in 2013.

The Furman Advantage framework as it’s known today didn’t exist in the mid-80s, but elements of it did, such as study away and a chance to have meaningful relationships with professors.

Henry remembers having spirited discussions with Professor Emeritus of Political Science Don Aiesi and Don Gordon, professor of political