A unique nursing program and veterans resource center at College of the Desert will benefit greatly from a generous gift from the estate of Jane Lykken Hoff.

The Inland Empire Community Foundation, which recently received $4.5 million from Hoff’s estate, the largest of its kind in the foundation’s history, will distribute the gift, noting that it will have a significant impact on the Coachella Valley community for generations.

Hoff, a pioneering philanthropist, dedicated her life to charitable causes, including arts and culture, education and environmental protection. Her legacy now lives on through the Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund, which will support four organizations the philanthropist cared about deeply: the Palm Springs Historical Society, the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation, PBS SoCal and the College of the Desert Foundation.

“Jane probably didn’t know that at the time we received her funding, there was a serious shortage of nurses, not only in the state of California, not just locally, but across the country,” said Catherine Abbott, from the College of Executive Director of the Desert Foundation. “This investment will ensure that students enrolled in our nursing program will have the financial resources they need to reach the finish line of graduation.”

“Jane’s contribution could not have come at a more momentous time,” she says.

Abbott is quick to note that among the veteran population, student veterans come to College of the Desert, often navigating a whole new world.

“Finances are the biggest barrier to success,” she says. “Some of them work full time, but it is difficult for them to continue their studies full time. This is another wonderful gift and investment that will hopefully alleviate some of the work hours of our student veterans so they can focus on their studies.”

In addition to providing scholarships to veterans and nursing students at College of the Desert, the endowment will benefit programs offered by the Palm Springs Historical Society, the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation and PBS SoCal.

In a statement from Katherine and Greg Hough, executors of the estate of Jane Lykken Hoff, the duo shared, “Jane believed in the power of community. This donation ensures that his passion for giving back will continue to inspire future generations. We are excited to see the positive impact this funding will bring to our region.

Meanwhile, Abbott is eager to get things moving at the ever-expanding College of the Desert.

“I think the foundation has a really rich history with this community and this college,” she said. “And we have, in my opinion, a very strong track record of promising to do with funding from our donors what they have asked us to do.”

When asked what she thought most people didn’t realize about the College of the Desert Foundation, Abbott noted that it was created 40 years ago to support students at the school.

“We now have assets of almost $65 million and we have grown exponentially over the last four years since I arrived here,” she says. “I think it really shows the level of confidence that our donors have in this foundation, with the leadership, and knowing that our reputation is strong and that we serve a diverse population of students who primarily stay here in the Valley.” first generation, they are therefore navigating a whole new world, which their parents do not necessarily know.

“We are doing our best to do what we can to help strengthen the economic infrastructure of the Coachella Valley for years and generations to come,” she says.

Learn more about codfoundation.org.

The Inland Empire Community Foundation works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy. Visit iegives.org.

This article was originally published on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The COD Foundation receives a grant from the Jane Lykken Hoff Endowment Fund