The Story of an Unlikely Philanthropist
You don’t have to be wealthy or a certain age to be a philanthropist. Anyone can include a gift to a favorite charity in his or her will. Consider this true story:
Rose Guepfer was born on Oct. 22, 1902, deaf and mute, to a farm family from rural Wisconsin. Working in the sewing room of a hospital in Wisconsin for 31 years, she mended surgical gowns and linens, never earning more than $6,100 a year before her retirement in 1988.
With faltering prose, Rose once scribbled this note to an administrator: “I want to give money to hospital for sick people to come here to get well.” When she died in 1997, Rose left the hospital her entire estate, worth more than $160,000. The money funded an endowment for the hospital’s grief support center.
Request our free guide on how you can include Lewis & Clark in your will. |
Completing the Gift
If you are interested in this easy way to continue your support after your lifetime, simply contact Sharon Bosserman-Benson for the Undergraduate or the Graduate School at 503-768-7911, 800-753-9292, or plangivg@lclark.edu, or the Law School development office at 503-768-6901 or lawgive@lclark.edu to receive sample language you can share with your attorney to include in your will. Your gift can be a specific asset or a percentage of your estate.
Copyright © The Stelter Company, All rights reserved.
The information in this website is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to income tax apply to federal taxes only. Federal estate tax, state income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.
More Giving Stories
email giving@lclark.edu
voice 503-768-7900
Vice President for Advancement
Josh Walter
Advancement Office
Lewis & Clark
615 S. Palatine Hill Road
Portland OR 97219