Parents’ Lifelong Learning Inspires Second-Generation Support
Adrian and Arthur Webber’s love for learning never dimmed with age. Throughout their lives, they sought knowledge and new experiences. After retiring from careers, the Webbers enrolled at Montgomery College, where they explored courses in Chinese, sculpture, photography, and countless other topics.
“My mom and dad had a lifelong love of learning,” says Erica Webber, Montgomery College Foundation vice chair. “They felt that taking courses at Montgomery College stimulated their minds. They also felt that interacting with younger students kept them feeling young. Dad took great pride in the small roles he had in several theatre department musicals. We still have photos they both submitted for photography class decorating our home.”
The Webbers’ appreciation for MC opportunities continues to be recognized by Erica and her two brothers, Neil and Jeffrey. Following the passing of their parents, the siblings worked through the Webber Family Foundation to establish the Adrian and Arthur Webber Memorial Scholarship Fund. Since then, they have made additional gifts that support a wide range of initiatives, including the College’s Global Humanities Institute, the Student Emergency Assistance Fund, and the Innovation Fund, which makes grants to faculty, staff, and administrators for initiatives that enhance student success. To date, more than 150 students have benefitted from support provided by the Webber family. Focused primarily on scholarship and wrap-around support, the Webber family’s philanthropy recently expanded to supporting paid internship experiences at the Library of Congress and similar institutions through the Paul Peck Humanities Institute.
“My parents spent their early childhood in the Bronx. They both initially attended the low-cost state school of City College of NY because they could not afford other opportunities,” Webber says. “They recognized the power of education to transform lives, so they wanted to share that opportunity with others in similar situations. They both felt a deep sense of responsibility to make a difference in the world by helping others, and they instilled this belief in my brothers and me.”