A Historic Gift: Bruno and Evelyne Betti

Twenty years ago, Evelyne Betti walked into the SPSCC Automotive Building and had a conversation with students which transformed the SPSCC automotive program. Since that day, hundreds of SPSCC automotive students have benefited through the Betti Tool Day from the generosity and kindness of Evelyne and the foundation she created. On this day, students arrive to class and can shop for automotive tools from vendors with costs covered by the Betti Tool Fund. Evelyne passed away but her legacy continued through the fund and, ultimately, the students. On December 9, 2020, the SPSCC Foundation received its largest gift in history, a $2.5 million gift from the Bruno and Evelyne Betti Foundation. The gift will impact the college’s Professional Technical degree programs, as well as Healthcare programs in the Dr. Angela Bowen Center for Health Education. The Betti gift directs $1.5 million as an endowed scholarship supporting professional technical students at SPSCC. The gift also directs $1 million toward developing a new nursing simulation space in the Dr. Angela Bowen Center for Health Education. To honor these gifts, SPSCC will name Building 16 The Bruno & Evelyne Betti Automotive & Welding Center and the second floor of the Angela Bowen Center The Bruno & Evelyne Betti Healthcare Simulation Lab. A representative from the Bruno and Evelyne Betti Foundation shared that the gift is about a lifelong program of “Giving A Leg Up” to support others, which was at the heart of the Betti’s philanthropic work.

Evelyne Betti visits the SPSCC Automotive Technology program circa 2000.

Evelyne Hill Betti and Bruno Dante Betti were early pioneers in the Hawks Prairie area of Lacey. They bought a Christmas tree farm there in 1948, followed by developing a hog farm, and rental homes. Warehouses were eventually built and they were able to rent warehouse space to up-and-coming businesses and entrepreneurs in the area. Always thankful to those who’d helped them, they enjoyed finding opportunities to help others. The Betti’s philanthropic interests were many and varied. Their generosity extended to students of the vocational and technical trades as well as supporting practical degrees in business, education, engineering, medicine, nursing, and other sciences. Bruno passed away in 1998 and Evelyne continued their work until her passing in 2007. Today, the Bruno and Evelyne Betti Foundation continue their philanthropic mission. ♦

Bruno and Evelyne Betti SPSCC will rename Building 16 the Bruno & Evelyne Betti Automotive & Welding Center.