When Trudie Thompson reflects on her years with the University of Delaware's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Kent-Sussex, she doesn't just think about the classes she's taught (and taken), the knowledge she’s gained or the leadership council’s many accomplishments. She thinks about the community she's found—a vibrant network of accomplished professionals, engaging teachers and voracious learners.

That sense of community is ultimately what inspired Thompson's latest act of generosity: a $1 million bequest that will establish a new endowment for OLLI Kent-Sussex, creating a permanent source of funding for the programs and initiatives that serve lifelong learners throughout the region.

“OLLI has meant so much to me over the years,” Thompson said. "My hope is that this gift will ensure that lifelong learners continue to receive the benefits that I have for many years to come."

Rather than naming the endowment after herself, Thompson chose to honor Sally Cole, the former manager of OLLI Kent-Sussex, with whom she worked closely for years. The Sally M. Cole Lifelong Learning Fund will provide the manager of OLLI Kent-Sussex with resources to allocate annually to key initiatives and programs, ensuring the chapter's continued growth and impact.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to be recognized by someone as visionary and generous as Trudie,” Cole said. “This gift speaks to the strength of what we created together — not just programs, but possibilities. It ensures that the energy, innovation and heart we poured into OLLI will continue to shape its future." 

As Thompson explained, her motivations for making this gift were deeply local, and she hopes that others in the community will feel inspired to get involved. “This is about OLLI Kent-Sussex and the community we've managed to build here,” she made clear. “I don't have any other affiliation with UD or even with the other OLLI chapters. But I couldn't be more passionate about the value of lifelong learning, and I hope that my fellow members in Kent-Sussex will join me in building this next chapter. Every dollar of this endowment will go directly to programming and infrastructure here in Kent-Sussex.”

Karen Asenavage Loptes, Director of UD's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, sees Thompson's decision to honor Cole as particularly meaningful.

“It's important that it's in Sally's name,” Loptes said. “It reflects Trudie's humility and honors her passion for lifelong learning. She and Sally were a wonderful team, working in the community together and advocating for OLLI. This bequest honors that friendship.”

For Loptes, OLLI represents something unique in the national landscape: Despite Delaware's small size, UD's OLLI has grown to become the second largest in the nation, with members from 20 states, Canada and Scotland. It also leads OLLI programs nationally in both donor participation and volunteer engagement.

“We're not a senior center. We're not an activity center. We are an educational cooperative; we’re volunteers who work together to provide a wide range of thought-provoking, experiential learning opportunities—in art, history, the sciences, computing, languages, travel, health and wellness, and so much more,” Loptes said. “OLLI is a place where people are using their minds and stretching their abilities. It’s a place to belong. Every week someone says to me, ‘I'm alive because of OLLI.’ OLLI gives people the health and vitality they need to live vibrant lives.”

While Thompson's bequest will eventually strengthen OLLI Kent-Sussex's programming capabilities, it also represents hope for addressing one of the chapter's most persistent needs: a permanent home. Currently operating in leased space, OLLI Kent-Sussex has flourished within its current location, but a permanent facility would unlock new possibilities for expanded programming and enhanced community-building.

“What we need most is a home where we know we'll be long-term—somewhere that meets the evolving needs of our program,” said Connie Benko, Chair of the OLLI Kent-Sussex Council. “OLLI meets a lot of our members’ needs, but one of the most important is their social need. OLLI is about building community, and our physical space is a vital part of that.”

While this endowment will not immediately result in a new facility, Thompson and OLLI leadership hope it will inspire others to contribute, building the resources needed to establish a true home for lifelong learning in Kent-Sussex. The timing is particularly significant as southern Delaware continues to attract retirees from across the region, positioning the Kent-Sussex chapter for substantial growth in the coming years.

Thompson’s generosity reflects a broader understanding of what OLLI Kent-Sussex means to its members and the surrounding community. As Lou Rossi, Dean of UD’s Graduate College, explained, “I'm just incredibly grateful for Trudie and what she's done for this program, not just with this latest planned gift but through her many years of service,” Rossi said. “I think that the impact of this endowment will be transformative. It's about the people who live in, and love, this part of our state. It's about life-enhancement.”

As Thompson looks toward the future, her hope is simple: that others will be inspired to join her in supporting this vital community resource. “I hope that my fellow members in Kent-Sussex will join me in building this next chapter,” she said.

To learn more about how you can support OLLI Kent-Sussex, please contact Andrew Walpole, Assoc. Director of Development, at awalpole@udel.edu.

For more information about the University of Delaware's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and it's programs in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties (and online),visit olli.udel.edu.