Havergal College & The Havergal College Foundation Impact Report 2020-21

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PLANNED GIVING

Committed to Women’s Education For Old Girls like Beverly Hargraft (Class of 1959), ties to Havergal have only become stronger later in life. For many alumni celebrating 60 years or more since graduation—who affectionately call themselves "Stoneagers"—their formative years at Havergal have taken on greater meaning, as have the bonds they forged with their classmates. “I hosted our 50th anniversary class reunion and I’ve become quite close with my former classmates since then, even after so many years apart,” says Beverly, who was a member of the Field Hockey team during her school days and later served on the Havergal Old Girls Association (HOGA) Directorate. “My friendships were the thing I remember most fondly about Havergal, and we all have a renewed appreciation for one another now.” Beverly’s late husband, William David Hargraft (known as David), felt it was important to make the Havergal experience, which Beverly had spoken of so highly, possible for deserving students who would not otherwise be able to afford it. While David sadly passed away in 1992, Havergal was honoured to be included in his will.

Beverly Hargraft, Class of 1959

After graduating from Havergal, Beverly’s nursing career took her to New York and then Montreal, where she met and married David. He had been making regular contributions to his alma mater, Upper Canada College (UCC), and decided to split his donations in half, making an equal annual donation to Havergal. At the time, Beverly’s father was Managing Director of the Foundation at UCC, and Beverly recalls David having to tell her father that he had decided to equally divide his donations between UCC and Havergal. “David always believed that women were just as capable as men,” Beverly says. “He felt strongly that women should have as many opportunities as men and he believed in the education of young women. I was deeply moved to find out that he had left instructions in his estate to establish the Beverly Bruce Hargraft Memorial Bursary to provide financial assistance for deserving students at Havergal,” she explains. “My husband’s commitment to ensuring that young women receive an esteemed education inspired me and that is why I have also included Havergal in my will.” The endowed bursary established by David will assist Havergal in achieving its goal of becoming best-in-class in financial assistance, as well as increasing the number of recipient students to 105 from 70 every year, in line with the national average among members of the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). Havergal is committed to furthering socioeconomic diversity, removing the barriers that prevent the best and brightest from experiencing the Havergal difference. The generosity of Beverly and her husband, along with that of future donors, will go a long way to help the school foster greater diversity and inclusion, both now and for generations to come. Beverly, and the late David, are members of the Ellen Knox Society, named for the school’s founding principal, a recognition granted to donors who have supported the school through planned gifts. Whether they are made as part of an estate or with the school as a beneficiary to a life insurance plan, these confirmed gifts allow Havergal to develop future programs with confidence, knowing that there will be a base of support to ensure success. To learn more about estate planning or how to leave a gift in your will to Havergal College, please contact Lisa Zanlungo at lzanlungo@havergal.on.ca or phone 416.483.3519, ext. 6524.