Gateway Community & Technical College recently partnered with the Florence Rotary Club to establish an endowment fund, promoting educational accessibility in Northern Kentucky. The fund is in memory of former Rotary Club President John and his wife, Connie Salyers.
The Hand Up Fund will exist to assist eligible Northern Kentucky Gateway student residents with emergency needs while they are enrolled in a program leading to a diploma, degree, or certificate at Gateway.
Before he passed away in 2020, John Salyers was a Rotarian for over 10 years and also served on the Erlanger Police Department. Connie Salyers died a few short months later, around the time of their 50th wedding anniversary.
“Our parents were very strong in their faith and it propelled them to love people in all walks of life,” said Salyer daughters Meredith and Beth. “From trips that our father took as a Rotarian to Africa to help eradicate polio, to the ministry our mother served with to help women find a pathway in life after living and working on the streets, they never missed an opportunity to help someone in need.”
The Salyers children said their parents were massive proponents of higher education. Connie Salyer was a middle school teacher for 40 years and both Salyers were big fans of Northern Kentucky University. The children said it gives their family so much joy to see their parents remembered in such an uplifting and positive way.
“This incredible philanthropy from the Florence Rotary Club members honors the legacy of John and Connie Salyers, who were pillars of our community,” said Gateway President Fernando Figueroa. “The Salyers Hand Up Fund will provide a tremendous aid to our students and by extension, our community as our students graduate into better jobs and careers,” said Dr. Fernando Figueroa, Gateway president.
Anyone interested in contributing to or establishing a fund may contact the Development Department at (859)442-1177, or email [email protected] All support is tax deductible and 100% of contributions are used for the purpose for which they are given.