BY PENNY DICKERSON SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER
Click link to the Florida Courier website/article:
http://flcourier.com/2014/02/13/25814/
Click link to view the Pajcic & Pajcic Law Firm’s announcement.
http://www.pajcic.com/public-service/edward-waters-college-2-million-donation/
Cultivating a friendship proved rewarding for Edward Waters College President Nat Glover. His childhood friend and renowned attorney Steve Pajcic donated $2 million of his personal funds to the HBCU with no strings attached. But even with friends like Pajcic, the college needs additional funding.
Community stalwart and respected alum of the college, Glover broke a 100-year barrier when he was elected Jacksonville’s first African-American sheriff in 1995 and was appointed the institutions 29th president 15 years later.
He is credited with raising more college funding than any predecessor and further allocated his $250,000 pension benefits toward scholarships for low-income students. But even with a president like Glover, more students need financial assistance.
Long time friendship
Accompanied by his wife Anne, Pajcic chronicled his long friendship with Glover with a jovial approach that ended on a poignant note. Among the parallels shared were how they grew up as kids on separate sides of Jacksonville’s Beaver Street.
The Milne Auditorium at the college was packed with a sea of students, faculty, and community leaders for Monday’s announcement.
“Anne and I have perspective on this gift. Yes, it’s $2 million – which is a lot of money for us – but it is far short of what is needed, said Pajcic. “Obviously, we believe in charitable giving and we’re hoping others will ‘step up’ and do their part for Edward Waters.’’
Remarks by Mayor
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown shares political success with Glover as the city’s first African-American to hold the office. Brown also is an EWC alum. In reiterating the donation’s gravity, he shared, “I think when Edward Waters College is successful, Jacksonville is successful. We can’t be successful without each other.”
With a goal to increase student enrollment by 1,000 in the year 2015, Glover expects to primarily use the funds for scholarships and additional institutional needs.
“The good thing about Pajcic’s gift is that they didn’t require us to name anything after them or say do this, that, or the other,” explained Glover. “We have a number of needs, but one of our main objectives is to get as many young people in school so they can access an education.”
Penny Dickerson 