A local woman’s wish to honour her late son’s memory will help support students from Niagara College’s School of Technology for many years to come.
The College recently received a surprise estate gift for almost $400,000 from Jean Kathleen (nee Smith) Weber, who died in December 2020 at the age of 86. In her will, Weber left a gift to establish a permanent scholarship at Niagara College in memory of her late son, David, who passed away more than 40 years ago at the age of 26. David had attended NC’s Electrical Power Engineering Technology program during the early seventies.
Wendy Dueck, director of Development, noted that the gift, which was half of Weber’s estate, came at a time when fundraising for student support has been very challenging due to the pandemic, and was, therefore, truly a wonderful surprise.
“We are so grateful to Jean Weber, who valued the role education plays in a person’s life, and made this incredible personal gift in her will, to memorialize her son who predeceased her, and leave a lasting impact on a cause she cared deeply about,” said Dueck. “Legacy donations made through a will truly have the power to transform lives. Through Jean’s generous act, the David Weber Memorial Endowed Scholarship will have a lasting impact on the lives of many of our students who receive much-needed financial assistance to support their education.”
The new David Weber Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year to select students in the Electrical Engineering Technician and Electronics Engineering Technician programs.
About the donor
Jean Kathleen (nee Smith) Weber was a long-time Welland resident who had been a Sunday school teacher, a vacation bible school teacher, a children’s club teacher, and an active community volunteer who was honoured with an Ontario Volunteer Award in recognition of her many contributions. She died on December 8, 2020 at the age of 86. View Weber’s obituary here.
Legacy gifts at NC
For many students, the financial challenge is the greatest barrier to pursuing postsecondary education. Those leaving a gift in their will to Niagara College to support access to education can help students overcome this barrier and set them on a course for future success.
In this way, wills are not just a legal way to distribute personal assets but are powerful tools for social change. And it’s not an either/or proposition – people can leave a gift in their will to charity while still taking care of those they love.
To learn how a future gift can make a difference in the lives of students, visit donate.niagaracollege.ca/leave-a-gift-in-your-will/.
