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The Donor: Hugh Fallis

The Gift: $250,000

The Cause: The B.C. Interior Community Foundation

The Reason: To fund scholarships for high school students pursuing additional education

Hugh Fallis and his family have been ranching near Kamloops, B.C., for more than a century, tending hundreds of head of cattle and serving as long-time community leaders.

Mr. Fallis's grandfather, Hewitt Bostock, bought the initial ranch in 1888 after arriving in the area from Britain. He also went on to serve as a Member of Parliament for the region and Speaker of the Senate. Mr. Fallis grew up in Toronto and worked the ranch during summer while in school. After earning a degree in agriculture from McGill University, he took over part of the ranch in the early 1970s and expanded the property, teaching agriculture at a local community college in his spare time.

Now 71 years old, Mr. Fallis has sold off much of the land and turned his attention to helping high school students. He recently donated $250,000 to the B.C. Interior Community Foundation to set up a scholarship fund for students in financial need. He plans to increase the amount to $500,000 within a few years and expects to award the first bursaries, worth $2,000 a piece, next year. The local 4-H club and the B.C. Cattlemen's Association will select the candidates.

"This area of B.C. has been good to me," Mr. Fallis said from the ranch. "And I thought I'd leave some legacy to carry on to support youth." He added that he hopes his fund will encourage others to "step up and make a contribution."

pwaldie@globeandmail.com

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