For more than 35 years, Nancy Cooper has served Furman University as Volunteer Coordinator for the Heller Service Corps (formerly CESC). The largest of all student organizations, Heller Service Corps has been a signature part of campus life, the Upstate South Carolina community, and the individual lives of countless students and alumni for nearly 60 years.
A Legacy of Impact
Ms. Nancy, as she is affectionately known by generations of Furman students and community members, has announced that the 2023-2024 academic year is her last as a full-time Furman employee. To celebrate her legacy of service and leadership, the Valentine’s Dance for exceptional adults will be named in Nancy’s honor.
The newly named Nancy Cooper Valentine’s Dance for Exceptional Adults, one of Heller’s most treasured programs for more than 20 years, allows special needs agencies in our community to provide an enriching opportunity for their members to celebrate and dance with Furman student volunteers.
Furman has established The Nancy Cooper Valentine’s Dance for Exceptional Adults fund to provide financial stability for this long-standing program that is near and dear to her heart and which serves the Upstate population of adults with diverse abilities.
Your support of any amount using the form below will honor Nancy and pay tribute to her impact and influence on the Furman community.
“Ms. Nancy has been the most generous and caring role model for me and countless other students. She fosters a sense of inclusion and belonging that makes those around her feel valued. Her unconditional love has made an impact all throughout the Greenville community. Everyone who has the opportunity to know Ms. Nancy will remember her compassion and help carry on her legacy.” -Sammy D. ’24
“I wasn’t able to be on campus my freshman year of Furman, but once I was my sophomore year, it was a bit of an extra challenge to find a sense of belonging. At least I thought so until meeting Ms. Nancy and the student leaders of the Heller Service Corps. Instantly I felt like I had a wonderful group of people to whom I belonged on campus, and they were doing amazing things for the community. Ms. Nancy makes Furman feel like home. She is always ready to give you the shirt off her back, her car keys from her purse if you need to get somewhere and it’s raining, or even a guest room in her home if you need a place to stay. I’ll never forget how welcoming Ms. Nancy and her community were to me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to now be one of those student leaders I used to admire.” – Sophia A. ’24
Make a Gift to The Nancy Cooper Valentine’s Dance for Exceptional Adults
