News
May 11, 2016Sage to Recognize Donna Robinson Esteves as Woman of the Century
The Sage Colleges is proud to name Donna Robinson Esteves, RSC ’70 as its Woman of the Century. Sage will honor Esteves with a special medallion during its Centennial Commencement on Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m. at the Houston Field House on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus in Troy. Esteves is also an honorary degree recipient and will receive a Doctor of Public Service.
“Donna Robinson Esteves exemplifies what it means to be a true woman of influence,” said Sage President Susan C. Scrimshaw. “As we celebrate our Centennial, it is a fitting tribute to recognize this remarkable woman for the leadership she has provided The Sage Colleges at the end of our first century and for leading us boldly into the second century. Her commitment, leadership and generosity as our lead donor parallels that of Sage’s founder Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage. We thank her for her contributions and for helping to empower so many others to make a difference through education.”
Throughout her career, Esteves has been an educator, saleswoman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Russell Sage College.
After starting a teaching career in the bayous of Lafitte, Louisiana, Esteves received her Master’s in Teaching from Tulane University, taught college and high school English for ten years, and was elected English department chair by her fellow teachers.
Esteves went on to join Mary Kay Cosmetics where she rose to become a “top twenty” director in retail personal sales, placing her in the top one fifth of the top one percent of 13,000 directors nationwide. Esteves then founded her own lighting installation firm, Free Lighting Corp, hiring and training all-women installation crews. When she sold her company twelve years later, Free Lighting was the nation’s largest residential energy efficient lighting contractor with offices in four states.
In 2002, Esteves turned to donating her time and the proceeds from the sale of her company to educational, cultural and women’s causes. Through her philanthropy and community service, she has donated and pledged more than $18 million to dozens of organizations and causes. The greatest beneficiary, by far, has been The Sage Colleges. In total, Esteves has donated and pledged a total of $14.9 million to Sage. The Sage Colleges has recognized these contributions in the naming of The Esteves Chemistry Labs, The Esteves Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Esteves Science Hall in Albany and the Esteves School of Education.
For eleven years, Esteves has served as a trustee of The Sage Colleges, completing the maximum three terms as board chair, and she currently chairs its $50 million Centennial Campaign.
