“Many people don’t realize how easy it is to complete a gift,” Thornton said. “Some of our donors leave 5 or 10 percent of their retirement plan or life insurance policy, and only need to specify it on a beneficiary form.” Planned gifts provide the University with an opportunity to build its endowment and increase the support for scholarships to students, as well as for important programs and campus improvements. In addition, they often fulfill the wishes of those who want to give back to the University, which is a special place to them. “When our alumni and friends leave a gift to us, they have contemplated how much the University has meant to them, and are fulfilling their desire to leave a lasting legacy,” Thornton said. “Planned John FitzSimmons ’66 and Helen can be arranged through the Guthrie ’65 met in 1963 at the student gifts are often the dreams of a family to make their University’s Office of Planned center in Welder Hall. The two were mark on the world. Giving, which helps donors married two years later and spent 38 Individuals usually support meet their personal financial happy years together, sharing a lifetime organizations that are most goals while making a significant contribution of friendship, laughter and good works. in line with their values, and those who give to to the institution. UST believe in the importance of education or Planned gifts are usually deferred gifts that are many of the other ideals within our mission.” arranged now and fulfilled later, as in the case of Henderson said she believes leaving a gift in the John FitzSimmons. According to Henderson, form of a scholarship is a truly selfless act, one that FitzSimmons wanted nothing more than to best exemplifies the character of her late brother give back to the university that so profoundly and sister-in-law. impacted his life. “John and Helen loved being able to help those “When he was sorting through the details of who could not help themselves,” Henderson said. how to proceed with his affairs once he was no “Everything they did, they did with their whole longer with us, the question arose, ‘What do you heart. This scholarship is just what they would have think of establishing a scholarship in your name to wanted—to help someone who is in a situation the University?’” Henderson recalls. “John and where they can’t afford to go to college, but they Helen had no children, so there was no person want to learn and get a solid education.” dependent on what they built as a couple. When “What started there at the University won’t the idea of a scholarship came about, he had such end there,” she said. “It will continue all over peace in his mind and he absolutely shined. His the world. That’s what’s so precious and sweet immediate thought was, ‘That’s it!’” about this gift. It’s the perfect fit for the kind of In addition to giving through wills, donors may generosity John and Helen exhibited during their also give to the University through other bequests lives. Their legacy will touch so many people such as charitable gift annuities. And the process of through this scholarship.” planned giving is all very simple, said Diane – Lana C. Maciel ’04 Thornton, director of Planned Giving at UST.
For more information about UST Planned Giving, contact Diane Thornton, UST Director of Planned Giving, at 713-942-5080.
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