Twenty years later, Pat’s generosity still shines

Portrait of Pat Jacobsen

“We as individuals can have a big impact on students at the University of Alberta,” shares Pat Jacobsen, ’76 BScPharm).

Pat cares deeply about helping others. In fact, a highlight of her 46-year career in pharmacy was the impact she was able to have on people’s lives.

“It’s really surprising, the number of people that we impact as pharmacists,” she shares. Pat noticed this during her work in primary care networks and at medical specialty clinics. “We were able to develop long-term relationships with individuals coming back for chronic disease management. You got to know them and their families.”

Today, in her retirement, Pat is still having an impact on people’s lives by annually funding the Patricia Jacobsen Award at the U of A. This award has been helping students, preferably from a rural community, in the third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences for over 20 years.

Pat also decided to further support her award by donating her Life Insurance policy to the University of Alberta. She provides a donation annually to cover the policy premiums and for which she receives a charitable tax receipt each year.

“It’s not difficult to do and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Million dollar donations make the big news, but much smaller donations together quietly make a significant impact. The university handles a lot of the details, and you can choose the amount that you’re comfortable with,” says Pat, who adds that her two sons are supportive of her generous gift.

The policy will be used in the future to establish an endowment to support her award in perpetuity. And for now, Pat can see the impact of this award in her lifetime.

“I receive a note from the university sharing the recipient’s name. And I often receive a thank-you card from the student as well,” she shares. “Awards, bursaries and scholarships are very important to students. Whatever size they are – they make a difference in helping students, as I know they did for me.”

For Pat, her award is a way to pay her good fortune forward. “It’s a way to give back for everything I’ve received over the years. Not just financially, but personally, what I’ve received from pharmacy as a profession.”

As an advocate for supporting students, Pat encourages her fellow alumni and U of A supporters to consider how they can help. “Think of the impact that you can have on another individual. Even with a small contribution, the benefit goes a long way.”