The Kate Bowman Memorial Fund honors the life of Katherine Margaret “Kate” Bowman and the compassion she showed toward families navigating autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Kate died tragically from a head injury on Christmas Eve of 2023, leaving behind three young sons, including her youngest, who is autistic. Her life was closely connected to both autism advocacy and the University of South Carolina. As a young woman, she saw firsthand the joys and challenges her brother and sister-in-law experienced raising two autistic children. Later, as a mother herself, she had only just begun navigating that journey when her life was cut short.

Kate also had deep ties to the University of South Carolina Biology Department, where both of her parents were professors and where she worked for several years in the biology stockroom while attending college.

This fund was created in her memory to support the work of the Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Research Center, advancing research and programs that help families better understand autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Through this fund, Kate’s legacy continues by supporting research, resources and community programs that provide answers, support and hope for families.

Ways to Give

The Kate Bowman Memorial Fund (USC Educational Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN 57-6017985). A charitable tax receipt will be promptly issued for each donation.

Your tax-deductible gift may be made in the following ways:

Online

Make a secure contribution by debit or credit card.

Give

By Check

Please make checks payable to University Foundations and include the fund number A32823 in the memo line.

Checks and other contributions may be mailed to:

University of South Carolina
Office of Revenue & Compliance
1600 Hampton Street, Suite 736
Columbia, SC 29208

 

Other Giving Options

For information about additional ways to give — including IRA distributions — please contact the Development Office at 803-777-6297.