Gift from San Francisco Stockbroker Helps Nursing Students
In her estate plans, Jane Steel, one of the first women stockbrokers at a major San Francisco firm, left a generous bequest for a nursing scholarship at Samuel Merritt University.
Kristie Taylor Silva, BSN '12, recipient of a Jane Steel Nursing Endowed Scholarship, and her family.
In her estate plans, Jane Steel, one of the first women stockbrokers at a major San Francisco firm, left a generous bequest for a nursing scholarship at Samuel Merritt University. Since it was established in 2009, the Jane Steel Nursing Endowed Scholarship has helped hundreds of SMU nursing students afford the cost of tuition and pursue their dreams of becoming nurses.
Jane Steel,
Pebble Beach, CA, 1967
Known as a pioneer in the investment field, as well as a wonderful host for world leaders and a philanthropist, Jane began her career in finance at Merrill Lynch in 1951. She later joined 16 other women to co-found the Financial Women's Association of San Francisco for networking and other support.
Jane and her husband Marshall Steel, Jr. were long-time supporters of Samuel Merritt University. Marshall, a community leader and businessman, ran the family dry cleaning and laundry business, the Marshall Steel Company. He had been a board member of Samuel Merritt Hospital in the 1960s, when the University existed as a School of Nursing. Aware of the need for student financial aid, they endowed a scholarship at the University. They loved reading the handwritten notes sent to them from students who benefited from their generosity.
Jane Steel's bequest continues to grow, helping hundreds of Nursing students since it was established.
Here is just one student story:
Kristie Taylor Silva, BSN '12, faced some challenges during her pre-nursing education when her mother suddenly became terminally ill, passing away during Kristie's first semester. Expressing thanks for her scholarship, she wrote, "I had to face the challenge of a non-traditional transition from the working sector to a prestigious college with very little financial supportÂ…Your help has made an unattainable dream become attainable."
Kristie persevered with her education, thanks to her mother's faith and encouragement. She proudly graduated with her BSN from SMU on time and with honors. Kristie sees her work in nursing as a way to honor her mother, and she seeks to provide her patients with the excellent care and compassion that her mother received during her illness.
Kristie is continuing to challenge herself to excel. She works as a registered nurse in a perioperative setting for Kaiser Permanente in Stockton, California, where she has found deep satisfaction working with patients and their families throughout their surgical journeys. Kristie is also pursuing her MS in Nursing at SMU while participating in a fellowship with the University of California, San Francisco.
If you are curious about the options for endowments and bequests, please reach out to us. We can help ensure your goals are achieved and brainstorm gift strategy ideas with you, obligation-free. You can also explore sample bequest language here.
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