Tuesday, June 17, 2014: an ordinary day that featured an extraordinary phone call.
“Hi! This is Jill Collier. Almost 40 years ago, Crotched Mountain helped train me as a young special education teacher.”
Jill called to share how that training had inspired her 38-year career teaching hundreds, if not thousands, of children with disabilities. At the time of the call, as she was setting off on her retirement, Jill was already thinking of how Crotched Mountain could help provide special education training for generations to come.
Less than 15 months later, Jill lost her life in a tragic accident.
But Jill had already sown the seeds of her enduring legacy. A distribution from Jill’s estate created an endowment fund, the Jill Collier Memorial Fund. Since then, Jill’s partner, Andy Card, has helped perpetuate Jill’s passion for special education by stewarding additional contributions from friends, family and others.
“As an endowed charitable fund,” Andy says, “it generates income and growth, and supports essential training to providers of special education for generations.”
While schools were closed during the pandemic and remote learning was the new normal, students with special needs were struggling at an alarming rate. Crotched Mountain Foundation used proceeds from Jill’s fund to provide life-changing tutoring to students with disabilities.
Now, through CMF Kids, Jill’s legacy endures, helping special education teachers and paraprofessionals in our poorest communities. Thanks to her, teachers and staff are receiving needed training to improve the lives of thousands of children with disabilities.
To support this important endeavor, please give with a gift by check (write “Jill Collier Memorial Fund” in the memo section of the check) or donate securely online at cmf.org/donate.
