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Spotlight on Eva Gordon
Leaving a Legacy and Changing Lives in Washington State At the end of 2019, the SPSCC Foundation received the largest cash donation in the College’s history: a gift of approximately $550,000 from the Eva Gordon Estate. SPSCC is one of 17 Washington community and technical colleges to receive a donation totaling nearly $10 million. We’re immensely grateful for this gift from the Gordon Estate. A woman ahead of her time Eva Gordon, who passed away in June of 2018 at the age of 105, was a woman ahead of her time. She traveled the world with her brother before she married and did so at a time when most women didn’t get to have that experience. Eva married her husband Ed later in life—in 1964—when she was in her 50s. Another exceptional thing she did was make wise investments. She worked as a legal
– John Jacobs (Eva’s godson)
secretary and as a trading assistant for a Seattle investment firm. Her husband Ed was a Navy pilot turned stockbroker. While the couple had wealth together, they invested their money separately. Through frugal living and investing early in Northwest-based companies like Microsoft, Nordstrom, and Starbucks, Eva grew her money. A history of lending a hand “Eva had a tremendous heart and liked to throw a rope to help people climb,” said John Jacobs, her godson and a representative for her estate. Her compassion toward those going through financial struggles was something which reoccurred throughout her life. She was known to lend people money and didn’t ask for interest when they paid her back. She also did volunteer work for children’s and educational programs.
Eva and Ed Gordon left nearly $10 million to 17 community and technical colleges in Washington state.
According to her godson, Eva wished later in her life she had attended college. Perhaps knowing she had an unfilled wish—combined with her giving nature—solidified her decision to leave her wealth to colleges so others could pursue their goals of getting an education. Giving the gift of possibility While Eva never attended college, with her planned gift she made it possible for others to have a chance at attaining an education. Through her generous donation, there’s a tremendous opportunity to build momentum toward cultivating student success. This donation provides a base for additional ways to assist students. Because now more than ever, college success looks like more than simply paying tuition. Unlike four year university students, it’s more common for community college students to have families, jobs, and other responsibilities in addition to attending classes to improve their educational or career goals. Those that are first-generation college students are more likely to attend community college, and are often in need of even more assistance to reach graduation. Additionally, many students have needs which extend beyond what is covered under traditional financial aid. In the last two academic years, through donations and partnerships with community organizations, we’ve been able to step up our level of support by implementing wrap-around services on campus and outside of SPSCC. Some of those services include access to an on campus food pantry, emergency funding, and housing assistance. The Foundation is looking to plant a seed which will allow us to support even more students, and while this gift from the Eva Gordon Estate will get us started, it’s only one step toward the work we plan to do. Providing support, showing belief Ultimately, a gift like Eva’s not only provides support and enriches lives, it can also bolster confidence. There’s something so powerful in hearing someone say ‘I believe in you.’ Giving a gift which allows someone to go further with their education is a decisive way to show faith in their potential and ability to achieve. From this point forward, scholarship recipients will know that a centenarian woman they never met believed in them and their dream of getting an education. ♦
Planned Giving
Make more than a donation. Leave a legacy. Through a planned gift, you or your family can make a meaningful, long-lasting legacy for yourselves and future generations of SPSCC students. A legacy gift is a charitable donation to the college from your estate assets. Often received after one’s lifetime, these gifts are referred to as deferred or planned gifts. A legacy gift allows you to control the use of your gift to benefit your own financial future and take advantage of tax benefits. A legacy gift can include cash, bequests, trusts, stock, life insurance, annuities, and more. The benefits of planned giving include: ∙ Federal income tax charitable deductions ∙ Reduced and deferred capital gains taxes on appreciated property ∙ Reduction of your taxable estate
