Joan Balfour, GSS ’77, wants others to have the same opportunities she did. As a student in Fordham’s Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program, Balfour was a single mother of two making $66 per week and had no way to afford tuition. She loved her studies, and it showed in her academic results—Balfour was an A-level student. There was no way she could give up her dream, but the financial hurdles were just too large.
So, she applied for a scholarship. As a student in one of the top social work programs in the country, funding opportunities were competitive. But Balfour’s performance was there; she had the grades and was dedicated to the profession. She continued to piece together funds to stay afloat while the scholarship committee made its decision.
Eventually, she got the call. Not only would Balfour receive a scholarship, she would receive one that subsidized the remainder of her tuition cost. Suddenly, a weight was lifted off her shoulders.
“I knew that for the rest of my life was going to be indebted to Fordham,” she said.
Now, Balfour gives $1,000 annually to the Graduate School of Social Service for student scholarships, continuing to pay forward the support she once received.
A Journey from Teaching to Social Work
Before finding social work, Balfour was a teacher in the Bronx. However, she quickly realized that while she loved teaching, the disciplinary struggles turned her away from the classroom. Searching for a path that would allow her to help others in a different way, she explored various options.
Balfour said that Rockland County, where she lived, created a “volunteer counseling” program that trained participants in counseling techniques. It piqued her interest. She signed up.
“I loved it,” she said, “and a whole bunch of us who did this training ended up going to Fordham.”
This experience led her to take courses offered by the Graduate School of Social Service at Rockland Community College. Mary Ann Quaranta, who would later become dean of GSS, taught one of those courses. Soon, the classroom atmosphere became a tight-knit community.
“The connections were so real, so meaningful,” Balfour said.
Once she finished her classes in Rockland County, Balfour was determined to pursue her MSW. Clinical social work had been calling to her all along. Balfour enrolled at GSS and a few of her Rockland County classmates formed a carpool, making the trip to Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus twice a week to get their master’s degrees.
“The educational experience, the camaraderie, the personal interactions with professors—it was all wonderful,” she said.
After earning her MSW, Balfour built a career spanning community mental health, medical social work, and private practice. She also dedicated herself to advocacy, helping to establish one of the first National Organization for Women (NOW) chapters in the U.S. and serving on multiple state boards and committees. In 1982, her impact was recognized when she was named in Who’s Who in American Women.
“I feel very blessed with the life that I’ve had,” Balfour said, “and I know Fordham was a big component of making it all possible.”
The Power of Paying It Forward
Balfour’s gratitude for the opportunities she received led her to start giving back as soon as she could.
“I started giving maybe a hundred dollars a year because I couldn’t afford more. But I wanted to do something, and it had to be for scholarships,” she said.
And as her financial situation improved, so did her contributions.
“Years later, when I started having more money, I began giving a thousand dollars,” she said. “Fordham was always so appreciative, and I’ve been a donor now for so many years.”
Balfour sees her donations as a way to ensure future students can access the same life-changing education she did. She recognizes that society needs social workers now more than ever, so helping those who feel called to this profession has a widespread impact.
“It’s such an opportunity to say thank you, to pass it along and help others get the same wonderful education that we had,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how much you give. In a sense, you’re giving back to what you were given.”
The real joy, Balfour said, comes from the knowledge that you’re paying it forward.
“If it wasn’t for someone who was willing to make a contribution prior to me, and of course to Fordham for having the funds to do that, I never would have been able to do it [get my M.S.W.] myself,” she said.
Balfour’s story epitomizes a lifelong commitment to service. By giving back, she ensures that future generations of social workers will continue to benefit from a life-changing experience and impact their communities.
To join her in supporting Fordham’s mission, consider making a gift today. Your contribution, no matter the size, can help change lives.
