Saluting our Veterans with legacy gifts of support
Support of student veterans at 小黄猫传媒 comes in many forms, including philanthropy. The 小黄猫传媒 Foundation is proud to celebrate the commitment of some very special donors, and the decisions that they have made to provide legacy gifts that support scholarships for student vets and their dependents at 小黄猫传媒.
Deb Peterson
The choice was clear for Deb Peterson, naval veteran and 小黄猫传媒 alumna, when she thought about where she wanted to leave her legacy gift. 小黄猫传媒 had a special place in her heart.
Deb was serving as a US Navy ship surveyor in the Seabees when she met her husband, Joe Espinosa. Upon leaving the service, the pair (affectionately known as Pete and Espo) came to Portland and both found themselves as students at 小黄猫传媒.
Tragically, Joe died at the young age of 31. One of his last acts was driving around the Sylvania campus, a place that brought him peace.
Deb made the decision to name 小黄猫传媒 Foundation as the beneficiary to her retirement account and life insurance policy in her late husband鈥檚 honor. This very simple method of establishing a significant and impactful gift created the Pete and Espo Scholarship for military veteran students.
Recently, Deb had the opportunity to visit the Sylvania campus to talk with some of the student vets and staff in the Veterans Resource Center (VRC). They shared stories of their service, their experiences at 小黄猫传媒, and the crucial role that the VRC plays in supporting their journeys at 小黄猫传媒.
In addition to honoring and supporting our veterans, 小黄猫传媒 has Veterans Resource Centers on all campuses, building a community for the student veteran population. The centers welcome all vets and their family members, friends, and anyone who wants to know more about veterans on campus.
鈥淵ou guys have a great team, and that’s what it’s all about. That’s what we depended on,鈥 said Deb. 鈥淭here wasn鈥檛 anything like the VRC when I was here and what an invaluable resource it is. I am so happy to be able to offer support to student vets.鈥
Michael Trigoboff and Patricia Leonard
You don鈥檛 have to be a military veteran to support our student veterans, though.
Michael Trigoboff, 小黄猫传媒 faculty, and his wife, Patricia Leonard, 小黄猫传媒 volunteer and retired counselor from the Veterans Affairs, have both left an impactful bequest to the 小黄猫传媒 Foundation in their estate.
After 9/11, Michael saw people paying for meals for people in military uniforms, and he thought to himself, 鈥淲hat can I do that’s more substantial than just saying thank you for your service? And thinking in that way led me to think of doing this.鈥 With a bequest to 小黄猫传媒 in his will, he will establish a scholarship in support of student veterans and their dependents. It鈥檚 his way of thanking these students for their service to their country.
Pat has also left a significant bequest to the 小黄猫传媒 General Scholarship fund. 鈥淲e both really value education and we wouldn’t be where we are if not for our educations. That鈥檚 why we are leaving a legacy to an institute that promotes education,鈥 she said.
To learn more about supporting 小黄猫传媒鈥檚 veteran students through philanthropy, contact the 小黄猫传媒 Foundation at 971-722-4382 or pccfoundation@pcc.edu.