ROCKFORD — Members of Hope for Haitians gathered on Aug. 20 at the University Club of Rockford to announce a legacy gift from late philanthropist Fern Shore of Sterling, Illinois.

Upon her death, Shore, a lifelong educator, gifted the Rockford-based organization a collection of 32 porcelain dolls to be auctioned off and 741 shares of McDonald's stock, valued at $220,000 at the time of transfer.

"Fern's life was a testament to the idea that consistent generosity, no matter the size, can create extraordinary change," Chris Weickert, executive director of Hope for Haitians, said in a news release. "Her final gift will touch thousands of lives."

Shore died Sept. 21, 2024. She was 101, her lifetime spanning the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, andWorld War II.

“When she visited Haiti, she w

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