USF alumni, faculty, staff and students celebrated together at the St. Petersburg Pride Parade in June 2022. 

Oct. 5, 2022

When Rick Russo was an undergraduate at Alfred University, the support of his family proved invaluable to his success as a student. 

“There weren’t many resources for LGBTQ students 30 years ago,” explained Russo, now the dean of extended education at the University of California, Berkeley. “If I didn’t have the acceptance of my family at that time, I never would have become who I am today.”

But it was not until he read a New York Times piece by journalist Dylan Lewis entitled “My Family Didn’t Accept Me. Ole Miss Did.” that Russo realized how truly fortunate he was to have their unconditional support. In the article, Lewis detailed his experiences as a young gay man who was alienated from his family but discovered like-minded friends and mentors at college who encouraged his personal and academic growth.

Inspired by the strength of the community Lewis found at university and his accomplishments in the face of adversity, Russo and his husband, Luis Lifschitz, decided to create lifelines around the country to uplift vulnerable youth in similar situations. 

Together, the couple founded the Stonewall Fund, a nonprofit that creates resources at colleges and universities to provide financial aid to LGBTQ students who face intolerance or discrimination from their families.

The first fund was established at Russo’s alma mater, Alfred University, and the second at UC Berkeley, where Russo has spent more than half of his three-decade career in higher education.

Now, the University of South Florida is proud to be the third home to the Richard F. Russo & Luis D. Lifschitz Stonewall Fund.

The endowed fund will provide aid and resources to USF students at all campuses who are estranged from their families due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

For those without a strong support system at home, access to higher education is often a dream that lies out of reach. 

Young LGBTQ people frequently lack funds for necessities such as food, medicine and housing. According to the Trevor Project, 28 percent of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives. Many of these youth face additional barriers when applying for student loans due to a lack of communication with their parents.

These challenges can mean delaying attending college or university, crucial spaces of inclusivity and mentorship for LGBTQ youth who are alienated from their families. 

Even for Russo, who had the acceptance of his family, higher education represented a unique space where he could fully embrace his identity and cultivate a community of lifelong friends. 

“Going to university gives young people the opportunity to create a chosen family and surround themselves with people who accept and love them for who they are,” said Russo. “Alongside safety and financial assistance, that sense of belonging is something Luis and I feel fortunate to be able to provide.”

The couple, who were married in 2014, forged a connection to USF through Lifschitz, an accelerated second degree student at the College of Nursing on the Sarasota-Manatee campus. Eager to bring a much-needed resource to students in Florida, Russo and Lifschitz reached out to the USF Office of Annual Giving and began working to establish the endowed fund. 

To magnify the fund’s impact, they have also committed to matching all contributions up to $5,000 per year for the next five years. 

“This is a cause that resonates with USF and its friends and partners,” said Russo. “We want to encourage people to give knowing the impact of their donation will be doubled and benefit twice as many students.” 

The couple’s shared devotion to broadening access to learning for underrepresented and low-income students makes all the difference to those who need a boost of financial assistance from the fund to pursue their educational dreams. 

Through the Stonewall Fund at USF, Russo and Lifschitz are proudly crafting a legacy of lasting change, empowering others to invest in initiatives that promote student wellness and academic achievement for the underserved. 

“My hope is someday there will be students who have received grants from the Stonewall Fund who find success and will be able to help the next generation of young people who need it,” said Russo. “It just makes me feel proud and hopeful, knowing that we can create lasting change to bridge the gap.”