Many of us are passionate about the value of education. Many of us understand that education is the solution to eradicating poverty. No one understood that more than Celia Linda Kissner.

Born in 1921 in Ypsilanti, MI, Mrs. Kissner lived her entire life with a commitment to service and a dedicated work ethic. From her humble beginnings being born into a large family on a 40-acre farm in Ypsilanti, to earning her college degree from Eastern Michigan University to realizing her entrepreneurial dream of owning her own business, she never lost sight of where she came from and whom she met along the way. After spending more than 25 years working with the Detroit Area school system providing equipment and instructional materials, she witnessed first-hand the plight of the impoverished. What she always knew for sure was that if she could help people get the knowledge; they would then have the power to positively impact their own lives and the lives of those around them.

It was her unwavering position on the importance of education, coupled with her philanthropic drive to always reach out to those less fortunate, that The Celia Linda Kissner Trust was established through The First National Bank, Trust and Investment Services. It is in the spirit of “knowledge is power” that the Kissner Trust has generously donated a total of $600,000 to benefit both The Lake Technical Center and Lake-Sumter Community College. Mrs. Kissner always understood that it is not just a grade point average that determines the character of a student, but their commitment to their studies. Because of this truth, the Kissner Trust has provided these funds for the benefit of those students who are motivated, dedicated and determined to advance their education in the direction of improving their lives and all of those around them.

From law enforcement to nursing, The Lake Technical Center located in Eustis, FL, offers a comprehensive variety of both career and technical programs. The generous donation made on behalf of The Celia Linda Kissner foundation has been established to provide scholarship funds. “On behalf of the students of Lake Technical Center, we are very grateful for the generous donation from The Celia Linda Kissner Foundation” Kathy Peterson of LTC says. Lake-Sumter Community College, located in Leesburg, FL has established a scholarship fund in the name of the Kissner Foundation, which will provide $25,000 annually to students who qualify.

With all the people that Linda Kissner reached out to during her lifetime, none was more important to her than her loving husband of 43 years, her daughter and two sons. Her husband also shared in her commitment to education, having served many years as a teacher and then an Assistant Superintendent in the Detroit, MI area. Following their retirement, they relocated to Central Florida and pursued their musical and artistic interests, while remaining committed to their passion for education and community service. Only 1½ years following her husband’s death, Celia Linda Kissner passed away on November 2, 2005.

She lived her life by the creed, “No Excuses-Just Results!” Well, the results are in.

Celia Linda Kissner has left behind a legacy that will continue to touch people’s lives from all walks of life for generations to come. She is forever gone from us; but lovingly honored and remembered for her generous, giving spirit.