If you ever doubted that every place around the Stetson University campus in DeLand, Fla., is likely to have a story, particularly one about giving, here’s further proof.

Surrounded by swaying palms and the chatter of students, the six benches that curve around Holler Fountain invite you to sit and stay a while – whether you’re a student in between classes, an alumus dropping in for a visit or faculty/staff taking a break.

Those benches have a history.

When Dr. Diane Disney ’63 was small and her grandparents (John
 and Myrtle Masden) would bring the kids down on trips through Florida, they always stopped at Stetson to see the fountain. Disney remembers it well and decided to create a lasting tribute to those times.

Just over a year ago, as the campus grounds were being revitalized, inspiration struck her: A bench by the fountain would be perfect to honor her grandparents and their love of learning and grandchildren. By the time she returned to Pennsylvania, the entire plan had come together. Disney endowed all six of the benches, so her family could all be together, including four siblings who attended Stetson, three of whom eventually married Stetson graduates.

“I’d like to believe that the Masden/Disney spirit will continue to surround Holler Fountain through those benches,” says Disney, “and help future generations of students, faculty and staff to find a place to rest, recharge and feel part of the amazing community that is Stetson…and perhaps meet someone they too will eventually marry!”

Note: This article was originally published in the newsletter IMPACT, Your Gifts in Motion at Stetson University.