OLEAN, N.Y., October 19, 2023 — An anonymous donor recently made a meaningful tribute to honor a former Franklinville teacher, Rebekah Love, by establishing the Rebekah Love Family Scholarship Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

The scholarship fund is a tribute to the donor’s former Kindergarten teacher, Rebekah Love.

Love was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) when she was 17, but went on to teach in the Ten Broeck Academy/Franklinville Central School district for 16 years before having to retire due to her illness.

Despite the challenges of living with MS, like being wheelchair-bound for almost 40 years, Love has maintained a joyful approach to life, said her daughter Mandy Zuech, who said her mother remains “one of the most positive people you will ever meet.”

To this day, Zuech sees the impact Love had on her students during her career.

“I run into her former students often, and they always ask about her and say she was their favorite teacher,” said Zuech.

That lasting impression inspired the anonymous donor to invest in what will be a long-standing tribute to Love’s impact on her students.

The Rebekah Love Family Scholarship, which will make its first award in 2024, is for a graduating student of Ten Broeck Academy/Franklinville Central School who has demonstrated academic success and is pursuing a post-secondary degree. Preference will be given to students pursuing a degree in an education- or nursing-related field of study.

Preference will also be given to students who, like Love, have faced adversity and persevered with a positive attitude.

Love’s daughter, Heather Pfeiffer, shared her appreciation for the donor’s kind and generous gesture to honor her mother.

“The entire family would like to thank the donor for honoring my mother in this most generous way,” she said.

The fund is not only a fitting tribute to a person and family who have persevered through life’s trial, but a demonstration of how philanthropy can be a true gift to sustain a legacy, said CRCF Executive Director Kirk Windus.

“Rebekah Love is one of those unsung heroes who exhibits the character traits that make our world a better place,” said Windus. “It is an honor to steward this donor’s thoughtful and kind gift and to perpetuate Love’s legacy of positivity by supporting students from Franklinville as they pursue higher education.”

Rebekah and her husband, Robert Love, have been married for 52 years. Together they have two children and four grandchildren.

Donations can be made to the Rebekah Love Family Scholarship Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 301 North Union St., Suite 203, Olean, NY 14760 or online at cattfoundation.org.