Gift from Zontas to support Physio program

A generous gift from the Zonta Club of Hamilton will soon help aspiring physiotherapists study at McMaster.

The Frances Colter Memorial Bursary, celebrated at a reception Wednesday at Alumni House, will be awarded to grad students enrolled in the School of Rehabilitation Science’s Physiotherapy program who demonstrate financial need.

The bursary is in memory, and from the estate, of Zonta member Fran Colter, who was a pioneer in the field of physiotherapy at Chedoke Hospital.

Colter died in 2014 and left a bequest to the Zonta Club of Hamilton which was used to establish the endowed scholarship.

“The Zonta Club of Hamilton 1 Frances Colter Memorial Bursary will not only pay tribute to Frances’ professional and volunteer worlds and the vital work of Zonta International, but will also make a significant difference to our program’s female students through the provision of critical financial support, allowing them to learn, grow and excel,” said Vanina Dal Bello-Haas, associate dean of Physiotherapy.

Zonta is an international service organization dedicated to advancing the status of women. It has supported McMaster with various gifts dating back more than 30 years.