Plumber's legacy helps sister realize a vision

I was washing dishes this morning and saw the title to this article in the newspaper. I thought the headline was interesting so I read it, only to find out it was about my grandmother and the scholarship fund my mom and aunt created a few years ago.

I have some many wonderful memories of my grandmother. I know she is being honored for her wonderful service to our family in a small but great way! I hope these scholarship recipients continue to accomplish what they have set out for in their careers. I look forward to start donating to this scholarship fund and continue to bless the lives of others.

Here is the article that was printed in the Idaho Statesman today

Idaho plumber's legacy helps sisters create scholarship program for farmworkers
Lynd Hoover's generosity and the drive of the Gonzalez sisters add up to college scholarships awarded to more than 50 farmworkers.


After their mother died in 2000, Maria Gonzalez Mabbutt and her sister, Delia Gonzalez, wanted to do something to honor her memory.

Guadalupe C. Gonzalez had emigrated to the United States from Mexico when she was
19, pregnant with Mabbutt and carrying Mabbutt's 15-month-old brother on her hip. She went to work in the blazing West Texas fields and worked in agriculture the rest of her life.

"My sister and I had discussed how we didn't get where we are without help, and once we achieved some level of security, it was time to help others," Mabbutt said.

The sisters, also veterans of agricultural work, created the Campesinos Unidos "Families from the Fields" Scholarship Program to help farmworkers and their children go to college.

They awarded three scholarships the first couple of years. Then a chance encounter expanded their ability to help.

Lynd Hoover, a former plumbing inspector for the cities of Meridian and Nampa, saw their announcement seeking scholarship applicants.

"The universe brought us together," she said.

While he was alive, Hoover wanted his donations to remain anonymous.

"I knew because my mom told me," said his niece, Stephanie Dickey. "He and I never talked about it."

Months before he died, Hoover named Dickey executor of his will and required that she be involved in choosing the scholarship recipients.

Mabbutt spoke at his memorial in June 2004, where Dickey met her for the first time.

He had willed all of his retirement investments that would have otherwise been taxed, about $400,000.

"It didn't surprise anyone. He was a really, really generous person," Dickey said. "He felt really strongly that he wanted to help kids that might slip through cracks."

Mabbutt and Dickey plan to award at least 12 scholarships this year of up to $2,500 each. They choose students who are just starting college and some who are finishing up.

"It feels really rewarding to be involved and to see his gift helping students get over that last hump or begin studying," Dickey said.

About 50 scholarships have been awarded since the program began in 2002; 16 of them for the current school year.

Erika Zapata received one last year, on her third try.

The Boise State junior in bilingual education moved to the United States when she was 13, learned English and graduated from Mountain Home High School. In her family, only her dad had gone as far as sixth grade.

During high school, she moved irrigation lines and pulled weeds.

"My dad said, 'You want money? Work for it.' My dad has done agricultural work his whole life," Zapata said. "It was really hard work. Your body aches."

Despite being rejected by the scholarship program twice, Zapata didn't give up. Last year, she found Mabbutt's home on Google Earth and hand-delivered her application.

"In this country, education is the key to success," Mabbutt said. "The more access young people have, that builds power for our community, and we deserve a place at the table. Idaho can and will be richer for that. I continue to be optimistic."

Bethann Stewart