She always had a coupon for Applebee's

More than a dozen community colleges across Washington State were shocked to find a check worth $550,000 in their mailboxes this winter.They were all courtesy of Eva Gordon, who passed away in 2018 at 105. During her life, she amassed a secret fortune of $10 million through wise investing.

"A lot of people didn't know the wealth she had. If there was a coupon for two-for-one at Applebee's, she was all about that," said John Jacobs, her godson and estate representative. She never went to college, and regretted this later in life. "Her goal was to provide an opportunity for those folks who could ill-afford it, whether vocational training or academic skill." Her donation was hailed as the largest financial contribution to community colleges in the history of Washington state.