Big Gift Helps C.O.D. Students Buy Textbooks
By News Channel 3newsline3@kesq.com
PALM DESERT -The College of the Desert Foundation has received notification of $1.5 million endowment from the Mary Jane Lane estate. The gift will endow the Dr. Richard S. Lane Scholarship Fund and provide money to College of the Desert students for the purchase of text books.
“This extremely generous gift is in an Endowment Fund, meaning the principal will not be spent but a percentage of the earnings will be awarded each year,” said Foundation Executive Director Michael Barnard. “Approximately $60,000 will be available each year for the purchase of text books by deserving students.”
The Lane Scholarship Fund has already provided some $18,000 in gifts to students in need since its inception in 2002, after Dr. Richard Lane passed away at the age of 92. He was a dentist from New York and Mrs. Lane was a nurse. They moved here to retire.
“We’ve been awarding these scholarships since 2002 with funds the Lanes donated at that time, but now we’re going to be able to do a lot more,” said Barnard. “Mary Jane established the fund several years ago and was making annual donations in his memory each year on his birthday. This endowment creates a permanent fund in his name.” Mary Jane Lane died in May 2009 at her home in Indian Wells.
Not just a donor, Dr. Lane was also a COD student, according to Barnard. “He began taking courses at COD in 1981 and continued every year until 1998. He took a total 100 units of classes during that time. He had enough units to get an A.A. degree, but he wanted to continue learning rather than stop taking classes.” At 89, he was one of the oldest students
