Catherine B. Reynolds brings to the world of philanthropy the same energy and entrepreneurial spirit that ensured her success in the realm of commerce. As the leader of two businesses, Mrs. Reynolds created a new and affordable way for Americans to finance a college education. A bold, innovative thinker, she developed a privately-funded supplement to government student loan programs. Through her vision and perseverance, hundreds of thousands of Americans have been able to attend the college of their choice.

In only one decade, this creative approach to private educational financing revolutionized student lending and spawned a multibillion-dollar industry of 65 lenders offering more than 200 financial products.

Mrs. Reynolds devotes her time and abilities primarily to philanthropic pursuits as the chairman of one of the largest foundations in the nation. The mission of the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation is profound in its implications, yet simply stated: to help educate young people, to inspire them to believe in their power to make a difference as individuals, and to motivate them to reach their greatest potential as citizens and productive members of society.

Mrs. Reynolds was selected by Business Week as one of the 50 most philanthropic living Americans and the first self-made woman ever to make their list. This year, Mrs. Reynolds’ efforts on behalf of higher education have been recognized by the award of honorary degrees from Georgetown University, Morehouse College and Willamette University, as well as the NYU Gold Medal upon her induction into The Sir Harold Acton Society of New York University. She is also the recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, bestowed annually on America’s most outstanding business leaders by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Mrs. Reynolds has recently served as a member of the U.S. Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education.