Donations from around the world are expected for an education foundation in memory of the late Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine, a close friend said yesterday.
Dawn Purvis, who was elected leader of the PUP after his death, said the David Ervine Foundation would boost education, training and development among disadvantaged youths from across the community.
There have been promises of support from Australia, the US and Europe after the death of the former East Belfast assemblyman, who died in January aged 53 from a heart attack.
Ms Purvis, who now holds Mr Ervine's old seat, said he was committed to education. "We have had offers of money from all over the world, it came about just after David's funeral, people from the US, the Irish Republic, Australia and Europe, from people who have said they want to do something in David's memory," she said.
"We looked at what his passion was and it was education. We have an education system failing young people from both sides of the community from disadvantaged areas and we want to give them opportunities that they normally would not get." She added they were consulting education experts to decide the best way forward.
Former US senator George Mitchell, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern were among politicians to praise Mr Ervine, who helped broker the 1994 loyalist paramilitary ceasefire.The PUP leader had been an Assembly member for East Belfast since 1998 and also represented the Pottinger area in Belfast City Council.
There will be an annual memorial lecture and a gala fundraising dinner in Belfast next March. - ( PA )