“Overcoming barriers.”

Oxfam donor Dr. Dorothea Simmons broke through barriers during her lifetime while also helping others to succeed. Despite financial challenges, in 1949 she graduated from Howard University Medical School and was among a small number of Black women to become physicians at that time. After residency training in child psychiatry, she joined the staff at Worcester Youth Guidance Center in Massachusetts, where her clinical work focused on low-income families, while also providing training and supervision, and consultation to schools and agencies.

In her own words: “Within my professional role, but possibly more in my civic and community activities, I made an investment in advocating for children and families to reduce the barriers to survival and success.” Dorothea, who died at age 99, extended her concern for others through an Oxfam charitable gift annuity. She also put Oxfam in her estate plans, for which we are grateful.