Note: This message was originally sent on April 9, 2019
Colleagues, Enjoy the below story about a multi-generation Gonzaga family who many of you have come to know through our work with the board of regents……
Bart (’75) and Hilke Gallant embrace their family’s three-generation connection to Gonzaga University through their generosity of time and treasure. As a member of the Board of Regents, Bart has followed in the footsteps of his mother, Mary Gallant. Bart and Hilke are also carrying forth Mary’s legacy by creating the Horrigan Foundation Completion Fund, which is an endowment for students requesting emergency funding in order to attend or complete their education at Gonzaga.
Bart’s family has a special motivation to create opportunities for students in need of financial help. Bart’s grandfather, Judge Bert B.B. Horrigan, came from a family of immigrants; B.B. was in fact, the only one of 12 brothers and sisters who had a college education. He became a distinguished judicial and civic leader and served as a Superior Court Judge for Benton, Adams, and Franklin counties. The influence of the Jesuit priests in his life was both transformational and a connecting point to Gonzaga University. Bart’s grandfather felt very strongly about the power of education, making sure his grandchildren all had the opportunity to get theirs. But if that weren’t enough, he also established the Horrigan Foundation to support education, religious, and philanthropic organizations.
“Because of the adamant generosity for higher education from my grandfather,” Bart said, “I am particularly sensitive to the fact that others don’t always have it as easy as I did. For my wife and me, the most poignant loss is one that occurs to a student who simply exhausts every source of funding to educate themselves and comes up short at the very end—when they’ve put in all the time and energy, committed to the University and proved to the institution they are worthy of the degree, but are unable to close the loop financially. For us, that’s what it’s all about.” Bart explained further, “the emotional connection at the gut level for me is the kindness that the Jesuits have extended to me and my family and all of the relationships formed through Gonzaga over the last 40 years.”
The Gallants’ respect for the Jesuits also helped inspire gifts to support the Della Strada Jesuit Residence, as well as creating the Women, Faith and Leadership Fund. And the torch of generosity is passing to yet another generation in the Gallant family, as Bart and Hilke’s daughter Bridget (’18) is continuing the family commitment to GU, knowing that a gift of any amount can have significant impact on a student’s life.