Donor Stories
Learn how others have made an impact through their acts of giving to our organization and others.
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Visionary gift uplifts the democratic ideal"I've always felt strongly about giving people a helping hand. In my career, I saw first-hand how smart students just needed access to opportunities. It's something I believe in wholeheartedly...
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MCN Associate Dean Emeritus Catherine Miller establishes fund for professional developmentAssociate Dean Emeritus for Academics for the Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) Catherine Miller has always had a drive to learn as much as possible. It was this drive to seek out new...
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Couple's bequest to support biology students' researchWhen Professor Emeritus Charles "Charlie" Thompson joined the Department of Biological Sciences in 1978, he wanted to have a lasting impact. Considering Thompson's 40-year...
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Alum's gift has established Endowed Chair in Biological SciencesA $2.5 million gift from the estate of Dr. Fred Gletten '71 has established the Dr. Fred Gletten Endowed Chair in Biological Sciences. Gletten's gift is the largest gift to the School of Biological...
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Alum credits career success to experiences at Mennonite College of Nursing"I wouldn't be where I am today were it not for my experiences at Mennonite," said Mark Pelletier '81. "It led me to what I'm doing now. It gave me direction." With this in mind, Pelletier...
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$1.4 million estate gift to support Alumni EngagementA $1.4 million gift from the estate of James Ronald Beales '54, M.S. '59, will support the programs, services, and initiatives of Illinois State University's Alumni Engagement department...
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A former Reggie Redbird continues to inspireIllinois State was always a top choice for Tim Pantaleone '07. His mother was a graduate, several relatives held degrees from the University...
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A legacy of healingAnna Ropp '31 spent the majority of her 100-year life caring for others. On the family farm she watched over her three sons and...
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Pursuing a lifelong dreamNot everyone knows what they want to be when they grow up, but Stewart Adams '71, M.A. '74, Ed.D '03, did. He wanted to be a teacher.
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Go forth to bear with zeal unceasingPat Grogg joined the faculty of the College of Business in 1976 as an interim assistant professor in business education. Grogg, who specialized...
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A family legacyAfter graduating from Farmer City High School, Larry enrolled at Illinois State with a State Scholarship, graduating with an English-speech-journalism composite major...
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Raising the barTrent Richards '71, M.S. '81, has raised the bar since college-literally and figuratively. Enrolling at Illinois State as a physical education major...
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Nursing alum combines her passions to support studentsLinda Cooper, M.S. '99, had her first experiences in healthcare at a young age. Her mother, who worked as a labor and delivery nurse, would return...
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Honoring the spirit of kindness and givingSome of the most important lessons in life aren't taught in the classroom. Linda Sorrells learned the value of giving and philanthropy from her parents and aunt. Linda remembers her father...
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Shaping the student experienceSpeak with Danielle Miller-Schuster '97, M.S. '98, about Illinois State University, and you can't help feel her enthusiasm. The University was one of Danielle's top choices...
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A medieval legacyWhen Carol (Brush) Lind '75, M.S. '02, Ph.D. '07, first graduated with a degree in art education, even she couldn't have guessed that it was the first step in a journey...
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BequestsJoe and Anna have been faithful supporters of our organization over the years. Both of them strongly believe that it is important to support and encourage our mission.
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Fixed Income for RetirementAfter working for decades as a pediatrician in a small rural town, Patricia was ready to retire.
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Tax-Free SaleHoward and Lynn were age 55 when they purchased some land outside of town, and they thought it would be a good investment that they could later sell.
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Capital Gains Tax BypassedPeter and Gail were nearing retirement. Over the years, with the help of their financial advisor, they made solid investments in securities.
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Peace of Mind Gift AnnuityMany years ago, Clara bought a home. Since she was so pleased with the home, she decided to buy stock in the company that built it.
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Endowment GiftPat and Shelly were recently married. They had both been dedicated volunteers at their favorite charity for many years.
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Sale and UnitrustGene and Carol purchased stock in a small medical service company several years ago. Now, Gene and Carol are looking for a way to save taxes.
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The Retirement UnitrustMary grew up on a farm. When her parents passed away, she inherited the farm. Now, several developers would like to build homes on the farmland.
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Property Turns Into IncomeMiranda lived in the family home where she and her spouse had raised their children. After her spouse passed, Miranda found it increasingly difficult to care for her home.
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Flexible Deferred Gift AnnuityLewis is a 54-year-old executive at a large healthcare company. He purchased company stock during years when the stock price was low, and now the stock has grown substantially.
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Part Gift and Part SaleSusan and Kevin bought their first home many years ago. They had planned to build a second home so that their children could spend their summers along the lake.
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Current GiftsAs is the case with many families, there are times each year when Jim and Sharon focus their attention on gift giving.
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A Bequest to Further Good WorkNancy and David were dedicated volunteers. Over the years, they had seen many individuals helped by the good work of their favorite charity.
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