Storytelling has been a tradition for generations of the Schell Family. Anne and Bill Schell shared their love of literature through weekly library visits, reading aloud and bedtime stories, and giving the gift of books on special occasions to their children and grandchildren. They believed that reading was a way to open the doors to learning, adventure, and entertainment.

Anne’s daughter Maggie describes her mom as a life-long learner for whom reading was a way of exploring and expanding her view of the world. After moving to the Sunshine Coast, Maggie became a regular attendee of the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts (FOWA). Her mother Anne, her aunt, and the members of their book club, made the pilgrimage to the festival several times. Maggie volunteered with the festival and then joined the Board of Directors, becoming involved with the Fund Development Committee.

Maggie is proud of the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts and the work that it does to promote literacy, inspire readers and writers, and create an intimate event for authors and audiences to share their love of literature. She decided in the autumn of 2019 to establish the Schell Family Endowment through the Sunshine Coast Foundation to honour her mother Anne on her 100th birthday. She also wanted to acknowledge her parents’ deep commitment to the arts and culture, education, and community. Both her parents were active in their community and were committed volunteers. Anne was instrumental in saving Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest in White Rock B.C.

The Schell Family Endowment will support the legacy of literacy that the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts is passionately pledged to.

The more you read, the more things you know,    
the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

Dr. Seuss