There are many stories about teachers floating around the internet. Not all of them are great, and some even raise eyebrows. Despite all of that, from time to time there are some stories that are are very inspiring. By hearing about them, one can feel hopeful about humanity and realize that there are selfless people out there in the world. One such story is this one, when a teacher decided to leave 1$ million to her students.
Some 10 years ago a teacher told the Superintendent of a school that she was going to give one million dollars to the students. Of course, the Superintendent did not take this seriously and had a laugh about it, thinking that it was only a joke. It was surprising, to say the least, when they got the paperwork. The school authorities could not believe that it had really happened.
The teacher's name is Genevieve Via Cava. She was a special education teacher for the Dumont school district. During her long life, she had amassed a small fortune. Sadly, she passed away in 2011, but instead of spending the hard earned money frivolously, she decided to give it all away. The money was left for the people who meant a lot to Genevieve Via Cava: her beloved students.
One of her close friends describes her as being strict and having a rough exterior, but beneath that facade of strictness laid kindness and softness of heart. Starting with the next school year of 2019-2020, a student seeking post-high school education, such as trade school or college, will be eligible for $25,000 scholarship thanks to the money donated by Via Cava. This will help the students in the upcoming year.
Furthermore, the money will stay in a fund and will generate interest, which will allow the school to fund numerous students in the many years to come. Part of what made Via Cava donate this money was her personal life. She did not have any children of her own, and spent most of her adult life teaching in this school district. In a way, her students were her children.
The donation did not come as a surprise to the people that knew her well. Many people have fond memories of her. One of her friends tells that he met her 35 years ago. He worked at a store which was frequented by Via Cava and her husband. After her husband passed away, she continued going to the store, where she managed to befriend many people with her bubbly personality.
She was the kind of person that would lighten up a room the moment she went inside. She could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. Via Cava would help former students in their 20s and 30s to find work. It seems that the good deeds done by Via Cava have no end. Many students and friends remember her fondly, and surely upcoming students will hear a lot about her.
