Why I Give:
Ellen Forte and Elise Thomas

by Zoya Brumberg (MA 2015)

The minute she toured the campus, student Lily Fast knew she wanted to enroll at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

Her mother, Ellen Forte, an educational psychologist, immediately saw the ways that SAIC supported its students—not only as artists and scholars but as creative, evolving humans. Elise Thomas had a similar experience: her daughter fell in love with SAIC during a virtual art class she took during high school. Back then, both mothers were excited for their daughters to apply to the School. 

Forte and Thomas saw their daughters thriving at SAIC and wanted to help other students have the same experience. They decided to join the Parent and Family Council (PFC), an organization which connects families, provides opportunities for engagement, and assists students with internship grants. Now, through the PFC, Forte and Thomas are guiding the creation and implementation of the Student Persistence Fund, which offers grants for students who need support beyond financial aid and scholarships.

“Students can reach out and ask for assistance from this fund to help them get through particularly difficult times so that they can remain at SAIC and continue to pursue their passions,” Thomas said. “SAIC truly cares about its community, and the development of this fund is another example of this.”

Forte got involved with the Parent and Family Council after her daughter enrolled at SAIC in 2019. Shortly after, the global COVID-19 pandemic completely changed the college experience that Lily thought she was going to have. The PFC allowed Forte to keep abreast of SAIC’s work to provide continuity and support for its students during such a difficult time. As Lily progressed toward her graduation in May 2023, Forte saw how the PFC and SAIC supported students, whether through securing competitive internships or offering critical mental health services through the Wellness Center.

Thomas’s daughter had her first experience at SAIC in the midst of the pandemic. The summer before her senior year of high school—the summer of 2020—she enrolled in a program at another art school that was canceled due to the pandemic. She found a virtual option through SAIC and was impressed with the course, the advising, and the portfolio guidance she received. By the end of that summer, she was ready to apply.

Forte and Thomas saw their daughters flourish at SAIC in spite of the pandemic, but they witnessed the many ways it disrupted students' lives and sense of stability. During this time, the PFC was able to provide additional avenues of support.

“We need great artists in this world of ours,” said Thomas. “I would never want any student who wants to be at this school to not be able to attend because they are struggling financially, for whatever reason.”

An increase in internship stipends was a focus, as PFC members understand how critical these experiences can be to break into the art and design world. This complemented one of the central goals of the Make Way campaign, an ambitious school-wide initiative that raised $27 million for wellness, career preparedness, and student support. “We help to support students with internship grants, because many of these positions are non-profit and either have no salary or are low salary, or are in places with high cost of living,” said Thomas. “These grants that the PFC offers help these students take advantage of opportunities that they may not have been able to otherwise.”

The Student Persistence Fund expands on this aim of making an art education more accessible for SAIC’s diverse student body. Forte notes that there are many students at the School with “incredible talent, who sometimes lack the resources necessary to navigate all of the demands of the college experience; [they sometimes] face housing and food insecurity.” By supporting these students in need, they can focus on their art and education instead of worrying about how to make ends meet.

“We need great artists in this world of ours,” said Thomas. “I would never want any student who wants to be at this school to not be able to attend because they are struggling financially, for whatever reason.” ■