The decision to leave a legacy gift – such as a bequest in a will – is often made for personal reasons, and Gerry Zion is no exception.
Zion, BSc’70, DipEd’72, CertSecLang’78, is leaving a legacy gift to McGill that will support two initiatives to provide opportunities for students who need a financial helping hand: funding for a Faculty of Education student in a French language immersion program, and a student bursary with a preference for immigrants or refugees from Lebanon or an Arab nation.
“It’s a personal cause,” says Zion. His mother’s family is from Lebanon, and he himself earned a Certificate in Second Language Education, going on to a successful career as a high school teacher in Montreal.
“Many immigrants or refugees are unable to continue their studies due to lack of funds, or because they need to help in the family business,” says Zion, citing his cousins as an example. “So that’s always been at the back of my mind: that everyone should have the opportunity to continue their education.”
Zion had that opportunity. He grew up in Trois-Rivières, Que, and after high school he enrolled at McGill, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. “It was a challenge; I struggled,” admits Zion. But he followed that up with a Diploma in Education, “and it was perfect for me. Teaching was a great match for my personality, and McGill prepared me very well for a career in education.”
His teaching career was split between two Montreal high schools: Northmount High School in Cote-des-Neiges, where he initiated a new French immersion program tailored to his students; and Royal West Academy, an academically selective school. “Both schools were challenging in their own way, but McGill exposed me to different ways of dealing with things. My studies at McGill were definitely an asset.”
Now retired, Zion makes annual gifts to the University, and it came to mind when he was preparing his estate plans. “As I get on in years, I think of the institutions to which I am indebted: health, education, employers. McGill is one such place. It provided me with the skills to perform well throughout my career, and my time there created an openness to multiculturalism, which was important in teaching.”
His legacy gift will come in the form of a charitable gift annuity, whereby a donor gifts a lump sum in exchange for an immediate tax receipt and guaranteed income payments for life. “It seems like all the legacy options are very good! But if there’s an option that offers something in return, why not?”
But the ultimate reward of his gift is knowing that he will help worthy students pursue higher education. “It’s very simple: if someone’s life in enriched, I am content.”
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