A Gift to Professor Jackson
is a Gift to Our Community's Children
Join us in continuing Professor Jackson's
70-year legacy of educational excellence
Your donation creates opportunities for Lancaster County students facing barriers today.
The Story Continues and We Need You With Us
A Legacy of Persistence & Joy in Learning
"Learning has always been my passion, teaching others to learn is my joy!"
— Professor Emeritus Hazel I. Jackson
Nine Years of Persistence
In the 1950s, Hazel I. Jackson persistently pursued a teaching career in Lancaster County, facing continued rejection for years, because of her race. Finally in 1961, she was hired to teach English at Edward Hand Junior High School, becoming the first Black woman to teach in the School District of Lancaster. In 1970, Professor Jackson went on to become the first African American woman professor at Millersville University, where she continued breaking barriers in higher education. In 2021, Edward Hand Middle School was renamed Hazel I. Jackson Middle School in her honor.
A Lifetime of Impact
Professor Jackson's pioneering spirit opened doors that had been closed for generations. Her 70+ years of educational leadership transformed not just individual lives, but entire communities, proving that one person's dedication can create lasting change.
Living Legacy
Today, the Hazel I. Jackson Foundation continues her movement, transforming barriers into bridges for Lancaster County students. Every student we support inherits both Professor Jackson's proven methodology for overcoming obstacles and the resources needed to succeed
The Hazel I. Jackson Foundation
Where historical legacy meets current opportunity
Continuing the movement since 2022
500
Birthday Gifts for Professor Jackson
Professor Jackson would have turned 100 in September 2026. Join us in celebrating a century of her life with 500 gifts that continues her educational mission.
Each $100 gift honors her birthday by supporting the students she dedicated her life to serving.
Celebrating Professor Jackson's Centennial Birthday
(September 2026)
with Gifts That Keep Giving
500 gifts = more than 500 students supported
Campaign runs November 2025 - September 2026
The Hidden Costs of Learning
A teacher spends their own money on classroom supplies because budgets don't stretch to cover what students need. A parent has watched their child's face when they can't afford the yearbook, the field trip, or even a decent backpack to start the school year.
With rising costs making everything more expensive and families stretching budgets thinner than ever, these challenges have only intensified. At Jackson Middle School— the school named in honor of Professor Jackson—97% of families face these impossible choices daily.
Your $100 gift provides a student's yearbook, funds their field trip participation, and stocks their backpack with supplies so they can focus on learning instead of what they're missing.
Professor Jackson believed "teaching others to learn is my joy." Your gift removes the financial barriers that stand between that joy and the students who need it most.
Contact us
FOLLOW US
Email US
© 2025 Hazel I. Jackson Foundation. All rights reserved.
A Fund of Lancaster County Community Foundation
|
Transforming barriers into bridges
Transforming barriers into bridges