Education as a Path to Empowerment
A Couple’s Legacy of Education for Vulnerable Populations
Rick and Debbie Boyd are passionate about supporting our community’s most vulnerable. They both volunteer in support of a local women’s shelter and are dedicated to helping those experiencing homelessness, whether that be people who have faced difficult times and just need a legup or those who need deeper interventions and support.
“To get rid of homelessness, you need to deal with the root causes; we feel that education is one of the best ways to do that,” says Rick Boyd.
That’s why the couple established a bursary for deserving students in Okanagan College’s Human Services Worker program. Their support will help make education more accessible for those facing hardship and empower graduates to go on to help others. They’ve also committed to giving a legacy gift to ensure deserving students continue to receive support for years to come.
Rick and Debbie Boyd are grateful for the support they received while pursuing their educational goals. Thanks to financial assistance early in his career at CN Railways, Rick was able to obtain his master’s degree in economics, while Debbie received invaluable family support to complete her nursing degree.
The Boyds say that getting to know this year’s recipient of their bursary award was inspiring for them, and their connections with their student recipients is a key reason they have decided to commit to a legacy gift.
“Legacy giving allows us to continue to help the community when we’re no longer here. It allows us to be there for future
generations,” says Debbie.
“It’s really about investment versus subsidization. Both are important. Our current bursary is a way to effect change right away, and our legacy gift is a longterm investment in the wellbeing of our community,” adds Rick.
Thanks to Boyds’ generosity and commitment, deserving students now have greater access to Human Services Worker education, and the community is better equipped to support those in need for generations to come.