Sidney Garrett cared about Lawrence and, at her death, she made sure more than a dozen local organizations and Kansas University entities knew how much.

Garrett, who died last summer shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, left a trust fund worth about $904,000, which now is being distributed according to her wishes to a number of local causes. About half will go to the KU Endowment Association to support scholarships, her Pi Beta Phi sorority, Spencer Museum of Art, the Lied Center, the KU Alumni Association and both men’s and women’s athletics.

A number of community groups that were important to Garrett also will benefit from the trust, including the Lawrence Humane Society, Douglas County CASA, the United Way of Douglas County, the Rotary Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Douglas County and the Cottonwood Foundation. Many of the groups also benefited from Garrett’s financial support and volunteer service during her lifetime.

Garrett, the former CEO of Brown Cargo Van Inc., was the kind of person that makes Lawrence such a great place. She loved the city and all it had to offer. At her death, she wanted to give something back and did the necessary planning to make sure that happened. It’s a legacy that surely must have brought her some satisfaction at the end of her life and will continue to pay dividends for many years to come.