By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
RALEIGH, NC – William Peace University (WPU) announced last week it has received the largest single gift in the institution's history: a $5 million donation from the estate of alumna Mrs. Peggy (Garner) Britt, class of 1956. The historic gift is designated entirely for scholarships, fulfilling Britt's explicit goal of giving students who might not otherwise be able to attend college the opportunity to do so. Britt, a Raleigh native who passed away in 2024, was a long-time generous supporter of her alma mater. This bequest expands on her previous donations, including a $1 million gift in 2022, which established the Peggy Britt Scholarship and the Peggy Britt Endowed Scholarship.
President Lynn Morton said the gift is a monumental investment in the university's mission. “This historic and generous gift is a transformative investment in our students and in the future of Peace,” said Morton. “It reaffirms our deep commitment to access and affordability, ensuring that talented students from all backgrounds can pursue their dreams without financial barriers. We are profoundly grateful for this extraordinary bequest – it will change lives for generations to come.”
Peggy Garner Britt’s generosity was rooted in her own life story. Born in Raleigh on September 5, 1936, she graduated from Broughton High School in 1954 and became the first person in her immediate family to attend college. She graduated from Peace College in 1956 with a degree in business. In a 2022 interview, Britt reflected on how her time at Peace shaped her. “When I enrolled at Peace, I was very quiet and shy,” she said. “Peace helped me grow academically and socially so that when I entered the workforce after graduation, I was confident about my ability to do my job.”
That confidence propelled her to extraordinary success. In 1957, she married Bill Britt, and together they built one of the largest Amway businesses in the world, achieving the rare Founders Crown Ambassador level. She worked tirelessly to motivate others to "dream big" and was instrumental in forming numerous other businesses. Her success enabled her deep commitment to philanthropy, which included supporting St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Samaritan’s Purse, and establishing the Bill and Peggy Britt Foundation Inc. to continue her philosophy of “people helping people.”
Britt’s gift was driven by a desire to give promising students the same chance she had. “I believe that most young people want to improve themselves and have a meaningful and rewarding life,” Britt said in her 2022 interview. “Unfortunately, many promising young people and their families lack the financial resources to attend college. I want to help deserving students have that opportunity.”
University leadership emphasized that Britt's legacy will do exactly that. “This remarkable gift – the largest scholarship commitment in Peace’s history – reflects not only the incredible generosity of one of our most distinguished alumni, but also her deep belief in the power of education,” said Paul Scherschel, Vice President for Advancement. “Her legacy will open doors for countless students and inspire others to invest in the promise of future generations.”
In her own words, Britt summed up her motivation to give back: “I have worked hard and been very fortunate in my life. That good fortune gives me the ability to help others, particularly those promising young people who need a little assistance to get started on their own roads to success.”
