7 minute read
DONOR SPOTLIGHT: I Aunt E’s Radical Generosity
In March of 2021, Elisabeth Nash logged into a family Zoom meeting to celebrate one of her milestone birthdays. Like many of us, these family Zooms became commonplace for her family to connect during the pandemic. Upon joining this Zoom, Elisabeth immediately knew something was different. Looking through the gallery of people on the video call, she noticed several friends and extended family members, all loved ones but not typical attendees of the more intimate Nash family Zoom calls.
So why were so many people on this Zoom call? Because, in addition to wishing her a happy birthday, everyone on this Zoom had played a role in surprising her with the Elisabeth G. Nash Scholarship Fund. In early 2021, the Elisabeth G. Nash Scholarship Fund (Fund) was established in Elisabeth’s honor, for graduating high school seniors who served as Genesys Works interns in Houston.
We asked Elisabeth about her reaction, and she said, “Overwhelmed. It was such a great surprise and a wonderful way to honor me. I always say that I don’t want presents, but the scholarship is doing something good for others through an organization I am passionate about. It was incredibly thoughtful –they know so well what would truly be meaningful to me.” And, in true Elisabeth fashion, she then asked how she could help with the Fund.
We spoke with Jonathan Nash, Elisabeth’s brother and one of the primary stewards of establishing the Fund, about how this idea came to be. He shared that the discussion started between him and his wife around the kitchen table, where they knew they wanted to involve Genesys Works. After talking it through, they landed on developing a scholarship fund. Jonathan then recruited their sister, Helen, to help, and they sent out two emails. The first email was to Genesys Works Houston sharing their big idea. The second message asked about 20 family members and close friends if they would contribute to see if they could raise enough money to establish the Fund.
Immediately, the representative at Genesys Works referred the Nash family to Greater Houston Community Foundation (Foundation) to help them achieve their charitable goals. Jonathan shared, “The Foundation made things easy to get going. Essentially, my first email to the Foundation was, ‘I have no idea what I am doing. Can you help me?‘ The Foundation’s response was perfect as they outlined what my family and I would need to do and how they would manage and customize the Fund for us. Setting up this scholarship fund could have been a huge stumbling block, but the Foundation’s support helped us make this possible.”
Genesys Works’ mission is to provide pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Its proven model not only changes the future trajectory of students’ lives, but also has a ripple effect in their families, communities, companies, and society at large.
“We get to provide our input on scholarship selection criteria so we can ensure our goals are met. However, the Foundation does the heavy lifting for us. We would have struggled with so many logistics. I learned that if you ever want to create something like this, the Foundation is the partner to have.”
– Elisabeth Nash, Chair for the Board of Directors at Genesys Works Houston
Having this scholarship awarded to Genesys Works students was perfect because Elisabeth has been involved with the organization for nearly 20 years and currently serves as the Chair for the Board of Directors at Genesys Works Houston. Elisabeth was raised by many educators, including her grandmother, parents, and some aunts. They all showed her the value of receiving an education. Elisabeth is passionate about the mission of Genesys Works because “Students from underserved Houston-area schools are paired with paid corporate internships so they get to experience what a professional world could look like for their future. The long-term goal for these students is economic stability and success. About 80% of the students are first-generation college students, and they will tell you that they have never been exposed to a corporate environment. An internship through Genesys Works opens up a world of possibilities for these young people.”
People call Elisabeth “Aunt E,” regardless of whether they are technically a niece or nephew. She provides emotional and monetary support to many people around her because she always looks to lighten the load for the people she loves. Helen shared, “My sister has no biological kids, but my brother and I have five between the two of us. Through the years, my sister has been a surrogate mom to each of her nieces and nephews in an unusual way. She did more than attend birthday parties and sporting events; she would ask them about their aspirations and dreams and how she could help support and feed them. Radical generosity is a wonderful trait that needs to be cultivated, seen, taught, modeled, and passed on. My sister has taught us about radical generosity as a group of siblings. With her help, we have instilled this with our kids, and we hope this spirit of giving will continue for the next generations of our family.”
Asking for money was not something that Jonathan and Helen had done before, and they were moved by their family and close friends’ willingness to contribute. That initial generosity was an incredible reflection of how much Elisabeth means to so many, and they continue to provide support with annual contributions.
These scholarships are renewable. Meaning, if the students maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 and 12 hours of coursework, the Fund’s scholarship recipients are eligible for this scholarship each year, whether pursuing a 2-year or 4-year degree. While one-time scholarships are incredible for opening doors for students, recurring scholarships can move the needle to help students cross the finish line to graduation.
Throughout the process, the family has received several thank-you notes from their scholarship recipients. Connecting a human being to their philanthropy has been amazing. Elisabeth said, “The Fund honors me, which is awesome, but the best part is the joy of seeing and hearing about the impact. These scholarships do not just help one student – the positive impact ripples through to their parents and siblings, and through our community by helping to build the workforce of the future.”
Ask Elisabeth’s family and friends...there’s simply no better way to honor her.
Thanks to you and the Elisabeth G. Nash Scholarship Fund, I’ll be able to devote more time to my studies this year without the pressure of financial instability as a college student. I feel so lucky knowing I won’t have to worry about how to pay for things like on-campus housing and textbooks. This scholarship is extremely motivating to me as I’m planning to pursue a career in engineering and know that this is an investment in my future. All of your work is appreciated, and I thank you for making college possible for students like me!
