An anonymous donor’s last wishes have left Stellenbosch University feeling beyond grateful after they found out that their students’ futures were included in the last will and testament to the tune of R50 million, set to create bursaries for financially underprivileged students:
Stellenbosch, South Africa (11 July 2024) — Few can guess what the future holds for them, while no one knows when they’ll enjoy their final day. This is a universal truth that humans have grappled with since the beginning of time. But for some folks, life is less about finding answers to impossible questions and more about making answers to impossible situations, possible. Such were an incredibly generous donor’s last wishes, that will now make a wealth of chance for those beginning their futures.
The anonymous donor’s kindness has left Stellenbosch University feeling beyond grateful after they received the news that R50 million has been donated to their students’ futures per the donor’s last will and testament.
As shared by the University’s Hugo Steyn who is the Acting Director: Principal Giving, the donor’s wishes were clear: the funds must go to bursaries for financially disadvantaged learners within the Faculty of Theology and the Department of Music.
“The funds will be invested and create a sustainable annual income stream, benefitting countless theology and music students for years to come. The first round of funds will be available soon and we should be able to award bursaries from 2025,” Hugo added.
“We always talk about the transformative power of giving and here we have it in action, shared Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at SU Karen Bruns. The donor opted to remain anonymous and though we would have loved to publicly name and honour a person with such foresight, we will respect their wishes.”
It’s the kind of gift that will create immense impact for so many who have only dreamt about this kind of hope. And for the University, it’s a lesson in the power of giving even if no one ever knows the gift bestowed was by your hand.
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