Bert and Tillie Hood watch from afar as their local university is transformed from a vast expanse of undeveloped land in East Orlando into a powerhouse. As UCF grows, so does their respect for its power to change the lives of people in their community.

After four decades of quietly admiring its progress, The Hoods reach out to UCF and, without fanfare, announce that they plan to name the university the sole beneficiary of their estate. Although their generosity might have taken some by surprise, it was not a decision they came to impulsively. “We believe in education. We believe in UCF. Although we never had children, we always knew we wanted to support students at our local university,” says Bert.

With their planned gift, the Hoods have established an endowed scholarship fund that will be available to students pursuing any area of study at UCF and will exist in perpetuity.

No longer watching from afar, Bert and Tillie are now profoundly connected to UCF and the generations of students whose lives will be transformed by their commitment to education.