Donor Stories
Student’s Peace Experience Results in Foundation Gift
A gift to the Promise of Peace
Senior Bryce Brooks is very clear about what she loves about Peace. “I immediately loved the closeness of the school, the small classes, the relationships students had with the staff and faculty, and the fact that it was a women’s school,” Bryce says. And that’s coming from someone who is still making fresh memories of Peace. Bryce will graduate in May 2010, getting a bachelor of arts degree after double-majoring in anthropology and history, with a concentration in social and cultural history. “I have loved my time here,” she says. “The relationships with my teachers – particularly Mr. John Crossno and Dr. Val Hall – have made a large impact in my life.” Although she grew up in Ohio and transferred to Peace in 2007, she quickly felt at home. Now she’s taking a step to helping ensure other students can have that same experience. Her family’s foundation, The Frank Eck Family Foundation, donated $50,000 to support the expansion and renovation of the Lucy Cooper Finch Library. “I want Peace to continue to have resources for other students,” Bryce says. Bryce’s grandfather, the late Frank Eck, established the family’s foundation. Eck had made his career at Advanced Drainage Systems. During his 30 years at ADS, Eck grew the company from being a small regional manufacturer for the agricultural market to the world’s largest producer of heavy-duty plastic drainage pipe. Bryce says she may pursue a teaching career after graduation. “When I leave Peace, I will take with me confidence in my work and myself,” she says.
Alumna’s Enduring Tie to Alma Mater Inspires Promise of Peace Gift
A gift to the Promise of Peace
Walking the pathways of Peace in summer 2009, Don and Barbara Hoffman Curtis’ ’66 granddaughter, Abigail, remarked, “Where are the boys?” It might be a common question for any young girl visiting campus, but for more than 137 years, thousands of young women have graduated and gone onto realize their dreams. Barbara is one of those women whose lifelong partnership with husband, Don, CEO of Curtis Media, Inc., has resulted in many of her own personal blessings – from family, to education, to work and more. Now, she and Don are giving back to the place that Barbara says was the foundation for her future. Both have been active at Peace. She has served as a Trustee and as a member of the College’s Foundation Board. Don is a former member of the Board of Visitors. Now they’ve pledged a generous $500,000 leadership commitment for the Promise of Peace campaign – the sixth gift at that level for this fundraising campaign. “Don and I believe that God has blessed us in many ways and this is one way we can give back what he has given to us,” says Barbara. Although currently undesignated, their pledge demonstrates Barbara’s lifelong connection to her alma mater and Don’s support of women’s education.
The Philip & Travis Tracy Student Research Fund
A gift to the Promise of Peace
The Philip and Travis Tracy Student Research Fund was established as a part of the Promise of Peace campaign in 2006. The fund honors Mr. Tracy’s service to Peace as a member and past chairman of the Board of Trustees and as a longtime friend of the College, a truly noteworthy partner in realizing the vision for Peace. Through this generous gift, the donors are enabling Peace to award funds that will allow students to conduct research with faculty mentors during their junior or senior year. The income only of this fund shall be used to support research assistance for students who aspire to enhance their academic program with an authentic research experience.
Young Alumna Athlete Inspired to Give Back
A gift to the Promise of Peace
Elizabeth Ann “E.B.” Watson ’07 came to Peace College in the fall of 2003 with her basketball gear over her shoulder. Little did E.B. know that through the College’s athletics program, she would become friends with Trustee Fay Jackson Anderson ’54 – the Peace basketball phenomenon of her time and a present day, loyal supporter of Peace. Fay and her late husband, W. Ed Anderson, didn’t miss many Peace Pacer basketball games, and they always cheered on E.B. and her teammates. In spring 2008, when Ed passed away, E.B. knew exactly how she would honor her friendship with the Andersons. As a young alumna, she made two President’s Circle gifts to The Loyalty Fund in memory of Ed – one for unrestricted funding and a second to the Peace Pacers Ahtletics program. Through the memorial gifts given in honor of Ed, E.B. said, “I hope it gives Fay some comfort that Ed will always live on at Peace.” In making her gifts, E.B. gave up her entire summer coaching paycheck to memorialize Ed. “The Andersons really, truly gave so much [to Peace], because they wanted to make sure the Peace women of the present and future would have the same opportunities – and possibly more – that the Peace women of the past,” E.B. said. “That really rubbed off on me, and I wanted to do the right thing just like them. At the end of the day, it’s just money, and Peace can do so much more with money that I will ever be able to do alone.” Alumnae like Fay and E.B. understand that their dedication to Peace makes a difference. Their active commitment to support all Peace women, alumnae and students alike, provides a legacy for the future of Peace College.
The Julia Maxwell Allen Family Scholarship
A gift to the Promise of Peace
Julia Maxwell Allen of New Bern, North Carolina. established the Julia Maxwell Allen Family Scholarship Fund in December 2006 in honor of her long family legacy at Peace College and as a part of the Promise of Peace campaign. Her family legacy includes Mary Pickett Ward ’11, Alice Ward Allen’ 15, Julia Murvin Maxwell ’20, Julia Allen Thomas ’74, Mary Allen Wright ’78, and Julia Elizabeth Thomas ’07. The income of this fund is used to provide financial assistance to eligible women at Peace College, enabling Peace to attract and enroll the brightest and most talented students from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and is aiding Peace in its efforts to create a diverse and outstandig student body. In awarding this scholarship, preference is given to students who are members of the Presbyterian Church from eastern North Carolina. In 2008, Julia Allen passed away but had made Peace a beneficiary of her estate through a planned gift. With this gift, The Julia Maxwell Allen Family Scholarship became a fully endowed scholarship fund.
