Turning Tragedy into Opportunity for Others

When Julia Woodard '61 was a sophomore at WSSU, her father had a heart attack, and her life changed drastically. "He became unable to continue to send me to school, and I was going to have to withdraw," Woodard said. "Then one of my instructors told me about a state loan that I was now eligible for. Without that, I would not have been able to finish my degree."

Woodard, who resides in Durham, received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and attended nurse anesthesia school after graduating from WSSU. "I've had a very lucrative career, and I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to finish school," she said.

Because of the generous support she received, Woodard decided that she wanted to help other WSSU students achieve their dreams by establishing a trust fund naming Winston- Salem State as the sole beneficiary. "I don?t have children, so I decided that this was one way I could give back," she said.

"I encourage others to consider various methods of giving that they may not be aware of," said Woodard. Deferred gifts such as hers can begin with small, periodic contributions that grow into large amounts over time. Other planned options, such as a beneficiary gift in a will for instance, make it possible to offer a percentage of an estate later without the donor incurring any current expenses.

"Anything you can give will help make a difference in someone's future," she says. "We all should give whatever we can, and I've learned that what you do for others all comes back to you in some way."

For more information on ways to give, visit wssufoundation.org or call us at 336-750-3114.