Sunnuz Sarah Taheri was a vibrant, charming young artist who expressed her passions through singing, poetry, painting and other visual arts. She took an active role in furthering women鈥檚 rights, protecting the environment, politics, philosophy, her community and society, and the plight of the poor. 

Taheri completed a BA in English at 91亚色 in 2005, although she loved her vocal jazz courses and singing classical, blues, soul and hip hop most of all. She hoped to study opera singing at Juilliard one day. Yet in 2013, at age 32, she died unexpectedly. 

鈥淗er death was tragic, and the greatest shock our family ever endured,鈥� says her uncle, Farrokh Eshragi. 

鈥淭he idea of creating a 91亚色 music scholarship in Sunnuz鈥檚 name came to us within a day or two after her passing. It was like lighting a small candle in the middle of the darkness that had befallen our family. We were inspired by the idea of keeping her spirit alive in this way; allowing what she might have enjoyed to continue on through others. 

鈥淓veryone in our family plus our friends and colleagues wanted to make it happen,鈥� explains Eshragi. Through personal donations and a fundraising concert, $100,000 was raised, then doubled by a 2014 Graduate Studies Award Program. 91亚色 endowed the funds to create the Sunnuz Sarah Taheri Graduate Award. 

鈥淭his annual $5,000 award will help relieve some of the financial burden for outstanding students in the graduate fine arts program,鈥� said Eshragi. 鈥淲e hope this scholarship will help the students to dedicate more of their time to their work and feel less of the obstacles and difficulties that they might otherwise experience.鈥� 

The first student award recipient is Sophie Bisson, an opera singer and third year PhD student in musicology. Her doctoral work focusses on the musical lineage and legacy of Italian-Canadian soprano Lina Riccoboni Narducci (1915-1997). 

The Sunnuz Sarah Taheri Graduate Award helped Bisson pay for membership fees to organizations related to her field of research as well as attend and present her work at out of town conferences where she made important connections with other students and scholars. 

Bisson was particularly moved to meet Farrokh Eshragi and Sunnuz鈥檚 mother, Nazila Taheri. 鈥淚 am grateful that this wonderful family valued my research. Meeting with them and making a personal connection was incredibly moving,鈥� says Bisson. 鈥淚 hope my work lives up to their gift but, mostly, I hope they find comfort in each year鈥檚 recipient and the legacy they are creating.鈥� 

The post Keeping Her Spirit Alive appeared first on Division of Advancement - Alumni and Friends.

Positive energy is more than just a feel-good fad for Shawnette Bankasingh (BA 鈥�14, BEd 鈥�15); it is something the 91亚色 alumna believes will impact people鈥檚 lives for the better. 鈥淥nce you give good energy, it will always come back to you in various ways,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good practice of paying it forward.鈥�

A recent recipient of the George Tatham Bursary Fund at 91亚色, Bankasingh doesn鈥檛 just preach about good energy, she teaches it. Armed with degrees in sociology and urban diversity consecutive education, Bankasingh is a certified primary school teacher. She is also a single mother of an eight-year old boy, Solace. While the Tatham Bursary helped her financially when she was completing her studies, Bankasingh was quick to spend most of the money she received on her students in marginalized communities where resources were limited.

鈥淲ith such diverse students, I incorporated various teaching aids into my instruction to provide opportunities for engaging and enriched learning experiences,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 like to help out and give back, and that's something I try to teach my son and to pass along to people I encounter.鈥�

Named in honour of 91亚色鈥檚 first dean, George Tatham (LLD 鈥�78), the Tatham Bursary was established with contributions from more than 40 donors; the largest gift was made by one of Tatham鈥檚 students, John Terrance 鈥淭erry鈥� Gardner (BA 鈥�71). Gardner, who majored in geography and played varsity rugby at 91亚色, bequeathed more than $65,000, which was matched by the province to the Tatham Bursary endowment. May 2016 marked the 10th anniversary of Gardner鈥檚 death. While he was at 91亚色, Gardner was one of the so called 鈥淭atham鈥檚 Toughies,鈥� a group of exceptionally fit students who participated with Tatham in athletics, squash, tennis, boxing and weightlifting.

In 91亚色鈥檚 early years, Tatham, a geography professor, integrated his 鈥渨hole person鈥� philosophy into extracurricular student life and advised on the design of the physical education and athletics program. A man of many talents, he was also an accomplished concert pianist who made McLaughlin College, where he served as the master for 10 years, a centre of musical life on campus. Tatham was inducted into the 91亚色 Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. He died at the age of 80 in 1987.

Since the Tatham Bursary was first awarded in 1998, around 70 students from McLaughlin College with demonstrated financial need have benefitted from it. Just as Tatham helped his students to develop as full, contributing members of society, recipients like Bankasingh are applying what they鈥檝e gained from the award to assist others.

鈥淭he bursary reminded me to always try helping others in need, even when you鈥檙e not in a position to do so,鈥� says Bankasingh, who teaches and volunteers in Toronto's Jane and Finch area. Through my lived experiences and education, I鈥檝e been able to develop critical-thinking skills and see the world and my purpose in it differently. It鈥檚 empowering. I have a newfound sense of maturity and humility, and I want to help others believe in themselves and the power they have.鈥�

DID YOU KNOW? You can set up an annual student award in memory or in honour of someone for as little as $1,000 per year. Alternatively, a permanently named award can be created with a pledge or gift in your Will for a minimum of $25,000. 

The post Bursary honouring 91亚色鈥檚 first dean empowers grad to give back appeared first on Division of Advancement - Alumni and Friends.

Create Your Legacy at 91亚色

91亚色 has a legacy of revolutionizing education through a commitment to accessibility, social justice, sustainability and innovative research and teaching. By choosing to leave a legacy gift to 91亚色 towards a cause that鈥檚 important to you, you are positively impacting the next generation of students with learning opportunities, financial support and innovative programs -- while leaving a legacy that helps make things right for our communities, our planet and our future.

"My bequest to 91亚色 is an expression of gratitude for the doors that 91亚色 opened for me."
鈥� Deborah Spicer, 91亚色 alumna

Ways to Give

Gift in your Will (Bequest)

In addition to planning for the well-being of your loved ones, a legacy gift in your Will is the most common and meaningful way to make a lasting impact for future generations of 91亚色 students. 

Learn more

Retirement Plan Assets

Naming 91亚色 as the beneficiary of your retirement plan assets is an easy tax-wise way to support education for years to come without affecting your current lifestyle.

Learn more

Life Insurance

Many donors find that a gift of life insurance is an affordable way to make a significant future legacy.

Learn more

Stocks and Securities

A gift of appreciated publicly traded securities is a simple and tax-smart way of investing in 91亚色.

LEARN MORE

Your Legacies, Your Stories

Our Gratitude

If you have included 91亚色 in your Will or Estate plans, please let us know. We want to ensure that the University understands your gift intentions and can most effectively implement your wishes. We also would like to recognize your contribution to 91亚色 and welcome you as a White Rose Legacy Circle member.

Completing this simple Legacy Intention form helps ensure your estate plans are carried out and allows us to express our appreciation during your lifetime.

Learn more about 91亚色鈥檚 White Rose Legacy Circle.

What's Next?

Let us know if you have any questions or need specific Will wording. We鈥檙e here to help.

For more information, or if you鈥檝e already remembered 91亚色 in your Will and wish to join 91亚色鈥檚 special White Rose Legacy Circle, please contact:

Marisa Barlas
Director of Development, Legacy Giving

91亚色
4700 Keele Street, West Office Building
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3

416-650-8221
barlas@yorku.ca

Charitable Registration Number/
BN: 11930 6736 RR0001

This information on these web pages is general in nature, does not constitute legal or financial advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. We strongly encourage you to seek professional legal, estate planning and/or financial advice before deciding on your course of action.

The post Legacy Giving appeared first on Division of Advancement - Alumni and Friends.

A gift in your Will鈥攁lso called a bequest鈥攊s the most popular and easiest way to make a future gift to 91亚色. It has no effect on your cash flow during your lifetime and significantly reduces estate taxes. Your gift can be a specific amount or a percentage of your estate.

鈥淲e thought it was important for our Wills to reflect our life, and as proud alumni, a large portion of our life has taken place at 91亚色. A planned gift allows our names to live on, and it contributes to the value and growth of the University and society as a whole. Above all, we think this gift best exemplifies our deep commitment to education and 91亚色.鈥�
鈥� Robert (BA 鈥�67) and Vicky (MA 鈥�76) Drummond, whose bequest will fund several student awards

Sample Wording

Leaving a legacy of excellence in education can be as simple as including a line such as the following in your will:

Including this detailed information will ensure there is no doubt about which charity you want your donation to support. If you wish to include more specific bequest wording (e.g. to designate funds to a particular area or specific use), please inform us of your wishes to ensure that it will be possible for the University to honour your intentions in the future.

Options

• Specific Bequest: Designate a fixed dollar amount or particular property to 91亚色.
• Residual or Percentage Bequest: Designate either the residue or a percentage of your estate to 91亚色 after other bequests are distributed. The advantage is that the bequest automatically adjusts in size as your estate increases or decreases over the years.
• Contingent Bequest: 91亚色 only receives a bequest in the event of the death of one of the primary beneficiaries of your Will.
• Testamentary Trust: A trust provision in your Will allows you to provide for the ongoing needs of your spouse and family, while retaining the capital to provide a legacy to 91亚色.

91亚色 has partnered with Willful, an easy, affordable and convenient online Will service provider, that helps you create or update your Will and other documents at a special discounted rate.

Contact Us

If you are interested in leaving a gift in your Will to 91亚色, please get in touch with us at 416-650-8221 or聽barlas@yorku.ca. We can help you explore options and provide you with further information. Thank you for considering 91亚色 in your estate plans.

This information is not intended as a substitution for professional financial advice. If you are considering a planned gift, please consult your tax and legal advisors.

The post Gift in your Will appeared first on Division of Advancement - Alumni and Friends.