When Associate Vice President of Development Scott Rivinius asked Geoff Thomas if he would share what led him and his wife Janice to include the Broward College Foundation in their estate plans, Geoff started his reply, “To be honest, it was not one thing, but a series of events that culminated in creating a scholarship.” Janice received her associate degree in nursing from Broward (Community) College in the late 1980s. Upon graduation, Janice felt her time at BCC had given her the training and confidence that she was well-prepared to pursue her career goals. Her nursing career spanned over four decades with 28 years working at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale that provided clinical training for student nurses attending local colleges and universities. She felt the BCC/BC students she encountered still had a strong emphasis on, and success in, these clinical experiences just as she had.

In 2022, Geoff had a casual conversation with Broward College Foundation Board member Lloyd Rhodes about establishing a scholarship as Lloyd knew they were updating their estate plans. Lloyd, who has a long association with the College and its Foundation, arranged a tour of the Simulation Center on Central campus and a conversation with the nursing dean, Dr. Sara Turpel, and Foundation representatives.

Geoff shares, “Driving home from the tour, we both had the same feeling that our support could have a profound impact on the lives of BC’s future nursing students. Many schools might have a lot of ivy around their names. What Broward College has is effort. The effort the school provides to their nursing students—and we are sure all their students—to prepare them for the next phase of their lives is why we hold Broward College in such great admiration and esteem.”

Likewise, the Broward College Foundation has great admiration for donors like Janice and Geoff Thomas who share their plans for providing support to future students. In fact, they are so excited about their scholarship they are starting to fund it now with gifts from their IRA. In this time of giving thanks, it is with gratitude we share their story in hopes of inspiring others to follow their path. Should you like to discuss your plans with the Foundation or learn more about a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA, please contact Scott Rivinius at sriviniu@broward.edu or 954-201-7490.