Since its creation, the importance of a strong family unit has been the foundation of the Jeanette Spier Beavers Endowed Memorial Scholarship.
Established by Lois Spier Gray to memorialize her sister Jeanette Spier Beavers, the funds used to establish the scholarship were initially meant to support Lois herself. Jeanette had set the money aside to help Lois and her husband, who was suffering from Parkinson's disease.
"But after my mother died, my aunt decided instead to set up a scholarship in my mother's honor so that her work as a family therapist is remembered," said Bonnie Beavers, Jeanette's daughter, who has made a generous gift to ensure the scholarship continues.
The scholarship memorializes Jeanette's lifelong legacy of strengthening families and advocating for the underprivileged by supporting graduate students enrolled in the Couple and Family Therapy master's program in the Department of Family Science at the School of Public Health. These students complete their clinically supervised therapy hours at the Center for Healthy Families, a campus and community resource for couples, families and individuals that serves approximately 500 families per year and is one of the largest providers of mental health services in Prince George’s County.
"My hope, and my aunt's hope, was that this scholarship would broaden access to people of color so that they can strengthen their families," said Bonnie, who also serves as a community volunteer and campaign cabinet member with the School of Public Health's Dean's Council.
"This has ripple effects throughout the greater community. The family is at the root of it all, and I know that's what my mother believed," added Bonnie.
Jeanette dedicated her life to strengthening families through her work as a social worker, counselor and therapist. She received her master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan in 1954 and worked for ten years as an adoption counselor at Hope Cottage Children's Bureau in Dallas, Texas. She later worked with mentally ill patients at Dallas' Routh Street Clinic before establishing a private therapy practice for couples and individuals. She also supervised therapist trainees and researched and wrote extensively about families with disabled children.
Recipients of the scholarship, like Camila Escamilla, MS '22, continue Jeanette's legacy by demonstrating outstanding clinical skills and a strong commitment to working with high-risk families.
"As a future therapist, I will do my best to serve the Latinx immigrant community because life in America as a brown, non-English speaker with possible illegal immigration status comes with a lot of struggle that can be treated in the therapy room," said Camila in a letter of appreciation for the scholarship.
Camila and the tenacity of all of the previous scholarship recipients have made a lasting impression on Bonnie and have inspired her to keep the scholarship going.
"From the very start, the students have impressed me," said Bonnie.
"It's been humbling and rewarding to be a part of what is going on there at UMD. My mother would be extraordinarily pleased with what a scholarship in her name has brought."
Now, Bonnie's generous gift through Fearless Ideas: The Campaign for Maryland expands the Jeanette Spier Beavers Endowed Memorial Scholarship to ensure that more outstanding students and future family therapists will be able to work to build stronger families in their communities. Her blended gift includes funds that she will provide during her lifetime and as part of her estate.
To help support student therapists and the clients they serve, make a gift to support the Center for Healthy Families. The SPH Development team can work with you to determine a gift plan that meets your philanthropic and financial goals. Contact Jennifer Schwartz at jschwar2@umd.edu to start a conversation.