Almost three decades have passed since Annie Huus lost her 20-year-old daughter Lisa, but Lisa continues to have a positive influence on the world.
It comes through the Lisa Huus Memorial Fund, established by Annie in 1989 and now administered by the Children鈥檚 Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. A committee is also involved to oversee fund activity.
Lisa had infantile muscular atrophy, a rare condition associated with muscular dystrophy.
鈥淪he was unable to do anything for herself physically but she had a marvellous brain,鈥� Huus said.
She said Lisa became a pioneer in the public-school system when she attended classes with a support worker 鈥� the result of a shared determination between mother and daughter.
The memorial fund is for people like Lisa who are meeting the challenges of a disability to pursue a post-secondary education. Annie Huus said Lisa was in her third year at the University of Victoria when she died.
鈥淲e have helped 78 students,鈥� Huus said. 鈥淚f we can help a little bit with the funds then I鈥檓 happy and Lisa would be happy, because it was a struggle.鈥�
The fund is the family鈥檚 way of thanking the community for all that was done for Lisa through the years, Huus said. Recipients receive from $500 to $2,500, depending on their course load.
She said she would like to see the fund expanded to include students from across sa国际传媒
鈥淭here would be a larger spectrum that we could help.鈥�
Huus said that when the time comes that she can no longer run the fund, her other daughter and then her granddaughter will keep it going.
Another major donor to the Children鈥檚 Health Foundation is Angela Cot茅, who has used family money to support a wide range of local charities. She said she is impressed by a number of aspects of the foundation, including its emphasis on mental health.
鈥淚 love that now there鈥檚 a focus on mental health.鈥�
She said she gave out more than $350,000 after her father, M&M Meat Shops founder Mac Voisin, sold the company a few years ago.
Since he is in Ontario and Cot茅 lives here, she has been in charge of donations around Victoria.
鈥淗e gave me the opportunity of helping him make some contributions to the local community,鈥� Cot茅 said. 鈥淚 believe a lot in people needing to give back.鈥�
Her 12-year-old daughter, Lily, followed her lead by starting her own charity as a 10-year-old, 100 Girls Victoria, which is modelled after the organization 100 Women Who Care. The group brings together girls from eight to 13 to choose charities to support.
