When faced with the question “What is your legacy?” many people aren’t sure where to begin. Do you measure it by ideals? By accolades? By wealth accumulated?
For Bert Heeringa, the answer is rooted in community and people.
“Anytime you invest in people, there is a definite payback,” Heeringa explains. “It may not be straight away, but it’s self-perpetuating. If you invest in people, it helps them connect and believe in their community.”
Heeringa is a prominent Comox Valley businessman and former Chair of the North Island College Foundation (NICF). He is also one of the latest donors to join NICF’s Future 50 Legacy Match campaign.
“There is no downside to this legacy program. Anyone with any inclination to support the community through education should do it. All you have to do is say yes, and it provides instant access to $1,000 for a student at a time when they really need it.”
Heeringa speaks from experience. He established his own endowment with the NIC Foundation in 2005, and knows firsthand what receiving a bursary or scholarship can mean to a student.
“Education was difficult for me. I was fortunate enough to receive a small scholarship to college, and I know how hard it can be to get that helping hand,” he says. “Bursaries and scholarships help reassure students that we believe in their ability to move forward academically, that’s huge.”
The campaign continues to grow, drawing interest from donors, business owners and community members across the region. Heeringa encourages anyone who has benefited from their community to consider it a meaningful way to give back, not just now, but for generations to come.
“Anytime you invest in people, particularly those motivated by self-improvement, it’s a great investment.”
About the Future 50 Legacy Match Campaign
The Future 50 Legacy Match is an initiative from the North Island College Foundation (NICF) designed to create impact both now and for the future. The campaign aims to recruit 50 donors through legacy giving, which refers to charitable contributions made through a will or estate plan.
Each new or enhanced legacy gift unlocks $1,000 from a $50,000 matching fund, providing immediate financial support to students currently enrolled at North Island College (NIC). The matching fund was made possible by generous contributions of $25,000 each from Ida and Ted Sauve and Coastal Community Credit Union (CCCU).
Together, these two streams, long-term legacy gifts and immediate matching funds, form the heart of a campaign built to support NIC students today and for generations to come.
For more information you can visit the campaign’s section on the NIC Foundation’s website.