The Gift of Giving Back by Josh Post ‘94

planned giving

PHS alumnus Josh Post ‘94

The Gift of Giving Back

My experience as a student at Providence High School was a gift. Like most good gifts it came as a surprise. I had no idea, that late summer day I walked onto campus for freshman orientation, how much the four brief years I spent at PHS would impact my life. Recently, I decided to include Providence High School in my Will. Here is why… High school is intended to prepare you for life. PHS is one of the finest institutions at preparing students to go out with good courage to impact lives and to be change makers. I know PHS prepared me for life in many ways, some of which I am still discovering. One very important lesson I learned was generosity. Just before my senior year, I learned that a fellow student wasn’t going to be able to return for his senior year for financial reasons. Without hesitation another fellow senior organized a fundraising garage sale to make sure her friend, our fellow classmate, could return to graduate from Providence. That alumnus of Providence accepted that gift and went on to work at the White House, helping bring health care to several million Americans who had none. One can say that the generosity of one student helped spread generosity to millions.

Last spring I had the opportunity to re-connect with several of my PHS teachers in Seattle, as well as Michelle Jackson, Development Officer at Providence. Reflecting upon the many ways Providence has been a gift to me, I decided to give back to Providence by including it in my Will. My calling as a Financial Representative is to help people live lives of generosity. I do that by helping them plan for retirement, to make sure they have enough income, and to be as generous as they can be with the rest. There is nothing I find that makes people happier than to support causes they care about and to be a gift to others. I invite you to join me in including a gift to Providence High School through your Will or Trust. There are several ways to do this: 1. Name PHS in your Will. 2. Name PHS as a partial (or full) beneficiary of your IRA (401k, 403b, etc.). 3. Name PHS as a partial (or full) beneficiary of your life insurance.

4. Set up a Charitable Gift Annuity (or Remainder Trust) through PHS (Michelle Jackson can help you with this). 5. There are several other ways to support PHS in your Will and a Financial Professional should be able to help you with this. St. Paul said to the Philippians (4:4-9 NRSV), “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Rejoice in the Lord. Be thankful. Be generous. Find Peace.

In Christ, Josh Post ‘94

Licensed agent/producer of Thrivent Financial, marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. Thrivent.com/disclosures.

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