A man credited with helping three generations of Bermudians save for postsecondary education has been recognised.

Charles Jeffers, the executive sales representative and former agency director of Heritage Agency Bermuda, said a woman had come to see him about six years ago to enrol her grandchild in an education savings plan.

He said: “When I called her name, something went off in the back of my mind.”

Mr Jeffers said he asked the woman if she was related to a previous client.

He added: “She said that’s my mother. I said I enrolled you when you were seven years old. What has happened is that generations are now coming in — people we enrolled as children are now coming in as adults to enrol their children.

“This has helped so many people.”

Mr Jeffers was speaking at an event on Monday to mark 50 years since the introduction of the education savings plan business in Bermuda.

He introduced the first savings scheme in April 1969.

The agency offers the Heritage International Scholarship Trust Plan, which provides families with a scheme to save and invest money for postsecondary education.

Gerry Swan, the managing director of Heritage Agency, said that Mr Jeffers had been a major factor to the education of generations of Bermudians.

He said: “Charles Jeffers is more than significant — he was the prime mover to this milestone and business.

“He is still active with the business and is as keen now about helping families as he was in 1969.”

Mr Swan said that about 12,000 Bermudian children had been enrolled in scholarship trust plans since 1969.

He added that last year $3.4 million was paid out to Bermudian families by Heritage, and that more than $50 million had been paid out to families in Bermuda over the years.

George Hopkinson, the president and chief executive of Knowledge First Financial, which acquired Heritage Education Funds last year, said that Mr Jeffers had dedicated his career to helping families provide postsecondary education for their children.

He said: “With impeccable professionalism and exemplary commitment, Charles quickly touched the lives of many achievements.”

Mr Hopkinson added: “Charles’s proudest accomplishment is having the privilege to service three generations of customers.

“Today, he remains as committed as ever to families in Bermuda.”