Honoring a Former Student’s Legacy through Gifts of Stock
At one of the lowest points in her life, Helaine Schupack received a call from a student she’d taught at Bristol five decades before.
In 2018, Helaine was going through serious illness, and just as she was beginning to recover, her husband also suffered a dire health problem. In the midst of this trauma and chaos, Alan Lizotte called her.
Alan was a student in Helaine’s literature class at Bristol in the 1970s. After serving two tours of duty in the Vietnam War, Alan enrolled at Bristol Community College as an adult student in his early 20s. Helaine could see just how bright Alan was – his writing, particularly his reflections on his experiences in Vietnam, were haunting, deep, and enthralling. She knew that Alan had potential.
Helaine encouraged Alan to apply to Brown University as a transfer student. He was accepted, graduated from Brown, with full scholarship, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. He went on to a distinguished academic career, serving as Dean of the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Albany.
Though they kept in touch here and there, Helaine and Alan went their separate ways. Helaine left Bristol in 1980 to pursue a career teaching reading to adults with dyslexia and other learning disabilities at Massachusetts General Hospital (now in her 90s, she teaches reading to adults to this day). They met for lunch once, when Helaine was on vacation in western Massachusetts, but otherwise, had not seen each other in fifty years when Helaine received the call.
Alan called to let her know that he’d like to establish a scholarship in her name at Bristol to benefit adult learners over the age of 22 who are in need of financial support for their education. He established the Helaine Schupack Scholarship in 2018. He credited Helaine with seeing his potential and encouraging him, leading to his success.
Helaine was thrilled and honored to be recognized in this way. Now, Helaine contributes annually to the scholarship through gifts of stock.
Making her gift through stock is a tax-wise way for Helaine to support this incredible fund. She avoids capital gains tax on long-held stock, and invests in future Bristol students like Alan.
Sadly, Alan died unexpectedly in 2022. Now more than ever, Helaine wishes to honor Alan’s legacy by making an annual gift of stock to the Helaine Schupack Scholarship.
Does making a gift of stock make sense for you financially? Use our “Choose the Right Asset” tool and talk to your financial advisor about making a gift of stock and supporting the next generation of Bristol students!