Alumna’s $6M gift will foster music education at Clark and in Main South

Tina Sweeney valued many things during her long life. A good conversation about the issues of the day. A juicy burger (a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder was just fine). And an eclectic career that included stints as a television producer and as a counselor for the New York Department of Corrections.

She also dearly loved Clark University, where she earned her master’s degree in history in 1949. Her devotion to Clark remained unwavering until her death on April 24, 2020, at the age of 92. This week, President David Fithian announced  that Ms. Sweeney left Clark a bequest of $6 million “dedicated to fostering broader music-education opportunities here at the University and to establishing music programs, through Clark, that inspire and bring music arts education to children in Worcester.”

The specific commitment of funds will include:

• Endowing the Tina Sweeney, M.A. ’49 Endowed Chair in Music at Clark University to support a distinguished faculty member.
• Creating the Tina Sweeney, M.A. ’49 Scholarship to provide assistance for undergraduate students of high academic ability who are deserving of financial aid and are majoring or intending to major in music.
• Establishing the Tina Sweeney, M.A. ’49 Clark University Neighborhood Children’s Music Fund, which will be used to sponsor activities and programs that promote music education and exposure for children in the Main South neighborhood.
• Funding the Tina Sweeney, M.A. ’49 Music Concert Series for the Clark community.

President Fithian noted that Ms. Sweeney, who lived in Queens, New York, for many years, also designated funds, retroactively, toward the construction of Clark’s Jennie and Arthur Razzo Hall, named for her parents.

“She often expressed her gratitude for receiving a financial package that allowed her to attend Clark and sparked a deep and abiding appreciation for the University and its mission,” President Fithian wrote. “I know you join me in extending gratitude and appreciation to Tina Sweeney, posthumously, for this wonderfully generous gift to Clark, which will have a very positive impact on our students and on youth in our neighborhood.

“We eagerly anticipate opening new avenues of engagement with our community and providing fresh educational and performing opportunities at Clark.”