Equity
Trust,
a
leading
provider
of
self-directed
IRAs
and
401(k)s,
has
facilitated
a
donation
to
Baldwin
Wallace
University
totaling
nearly
$1
million
and
endowed
the
Desich
Family
Community
Impact
Scholarship.
The
scholarship
fund
will
support
BW
students
engaged
in
community
service.
It
is
representative
of
a
longstanding
BW
tradition
of
support
for
endowed
scholarships
that
broaden
student
access
to
a
quality
higher
education.
A
total
of
$50,000
in
grants
will
be
awarded
to
deserving
BW
students
each
year.
The
program
aligns
with
the
deep,
shared
commitment
to
community
service
by
the
Desich
family,
Equity
Trust
and
Baldwin
Wallace.
"Education
and
community
are
very
special
values
to
our
family,"
said
Richard
Desich,
Sr.,
founder
and
chairman
of
the
board
of
Equity
Trust
Company.
"With
this
scholarship
we
wanted
to
encourage
BW
students
not
only
to
pursue
higher
education,
but
also
give
back
to
their
respective
communities.
Our
greatest
wish
is
these
students
will
become
both
lifelong
learners
and
lifelong
givers."
The nomination process for 20 renewable awards, available to sophomores, juniors and seniors, will be overseen by representatives from BW's David & Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement. The key consideration is a "demonstrated impactful community service and involvement at both Baldwin Wallace University and elsewhere in Northeast Ohio."
"BW is grateful that the Desich family recognizes, values and supports the BW mission to educate our students to become contributing, compassionate citizens," said Christy Walkuski, director, Brain Center for Community Engagement. "We are delighted to see this fund established to foster educational access and reward the good work of our students who are already finding ways to use their education and talents to make a positive difference in the local community."
The
Desich
Family
Community
Impact
Scholarship
joins
more
than
380
named
scholarships
funded
by
alumni,
faculty,
trustees
and
friends,
which
provide
in
excess
of
$3.1
million
each
year
to
help
students
attend,
persist
and
graduate
from
BW.
According
to
BW's
Center
for
Philanthropy
&
Alumni
Engagement,
the
minimum
amount
needed
to
establish
an
endowed
scholarship
is
$50,000
which
can
be
funded
with
a
single
gift
or
built
over
time.