ongoing impact

Ongoing impact

For Elizabeth, who started her journey at Pace as a non-traditional graduate student, Pace offered what she had been missing elsewhere at VCU: a true sense of belonging. “I was very lonely,” she recalls. “You know, VCU tries, but I often eel like there's not enough effort given to making sure students feel a sense of community and belonging. I was older than everybody. I lived at home. I felt like I had more in common with the professors than the students sometimes.”

Elizabeth began volunteering at Community Café, a communal meal. Before long, she was volunteering in other ways, becoming deeply involved. “Pace was one of those ‘third spaces’ -- a place outside of home and class where you can go and meet people in an informal way.”

For her husband, a retired professor at VCU, the impact is just as personal: the conversations, the shared meals, and the chance to witness students grow has made Pace a place that gives as much as it receives. “Pace is a great place to be because people are really happy here, which makes it easy for me to be happy to be here. It’s a joy.”

That sense of joy and connection has shaped how both John and Elizabeth think about giving back. For Elizabeth, supporting Pace is deeply tied to care for future generations. “We want our money to help other people after we pass. I feel like I’m doing something good for future generations of VCU students - treating them as if I were taking care of my own children,” she says.

Together, they made the decision to leave a legacy gift to ensure that the experience they’ve enjoyed at Pace continues. Working with the Community Foundation, they established a plan that will distribute funds to organizations they care about, including Pace. “When we were deciding where we wanted to generate an ongoing impact, Pace, of course, figured prominently,” Elizabeth explains.

Their hope is simple: that Pace will continue to be a place where students feel connected and empowered. Through their planned gift, John and Elizabeth are helping ensure that future generations of students can walk through Pace’s doors and find the same sense of joy, purpose, and belonging.