Arkansas Alums Launch International Philanthropy Initiative

University of Arkansas graduates Donna and Mack McLarty on Oct. 22 announced the launch of the McLarty Global Fellows Program, which supports international philanthropy in economic empowerment, human rights and political participation.

The program will be open to college and graduate students at UA and the William J. Clinton School of Public Service.

“Mack and I began the McLarty Global Fellows Program as way to support the important work being done to promote cultural diplomacy around the world,” Donna McLarty said. “We are pleased that through this program we are able to build on the extraordinary professional experiences and public service endeavors we have shared over many years in Washington D.C.”

McLarty Global Fellows also announced a research fellowship at the Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University. The fellowship, in honor of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, will benefit one student from the Clinton school.

Mack McLarty served as President Bill Clinton’s first White House Chief of Staff and Donna McLarty has worked with Hillary Clinton on a variety of important issues in Washington and Arkansas.

In addition to the international program and the fellowship at Georgetown, McLarty Global Fellows this year also partnered with the Vital Voices Global Partnership to offer fellowships to students at the Clinton School, the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the Sam M. Walton College of Business, to work at the Vital Voices headquarters in Washington, D.C. Vital Voices is an international NGO focused on women’s economic empowerment that was co-founded by McLarty.

The McLarty Global Fellows Program was established in 2011 and was founded by Thomas F. McLarty III, Donna McLarty, their sons Mark and Franklin, their daughter-in-law Gabriela, and their grand-daughter Brianna. The program is based in Little Rock and D.C.