Together We GIVE So They Can SUCCEED

Legacy.  

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The meaning of life and legacy often go hand in hand. While legacy is unique to every person, Shawnee alumni all share a common history – our time spent in the halls, classrooms, playgrounds and athletic fields surrounding Shawnee Schools. Those experiences helped shape all of us into who we are today. 

How you want to establish a legacy can take many forms. There are many ways to be remembered, and taking the time to consider those ways can help you fulfill your vision for a lasting impact. It may be the first time you’ve thought about your life’s purpose and what you want to leave behind. Or now may be the right time to revise previous plans to fit where you are now in life. 

Ways to create a legacy... 

There are many ways for you to leave a lasting impact. Ways you can establish a legacy are through: 

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• Children or grandchildren 

• Your career, hobbies, or other passions 

• Reputation, core values, or character 

• Sharing sentimental objects or photos 

• Passing on key life lessons in verbal, written or video format 

• Volunteering time with charitable organizations 

• Giving assets either now or after passing to support causes important to you

You may already be charitably minded. You may also have never really thought about providing support to a worthy cause; a cause which you believe made a difference in your life, or the life of others. Either way, having a well thought out giving plan can lead to a more purposeful, impactful, and tax-wise philanthropy. As you think through your giving plan, you might want to consider the following: 

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• What does your current giving plan look like? Do you support one or more specific organizations or are you casually helping friends and loved ones? Having clearly defined goals allows you to say “no” to donation requests that don’t fit into your giving plan, and “yes” to those you have already determined you wish to support. 

• What is the best way for you to give? Cash is not always the best way to give to a qualified charity. Non-cash assets such as securities may provide you with significant tax advantages. Not only could you receive a tax deduction for the value of your gift, but you could also escape any tax on your capital gains. 

• Should you make a gift now or upon your passing? Donors to the Lima Shawnee Alumni Legacy Scholarship Program can make outright gifts now, or planned gifts after their lifetime. A big advantage of giving now is that you can see, meet, and talk with the recipients of your contributions, and follow them as they continue their education on the path of becoming valuable members of society. Many donors do both; they make gifts throughout their life and through their will. And if you are over 70 1/2, you may be able to make an immediate gift directly from your retirement account without any income tax to you.

We invite you to make a gift in support of the Lima Shawnee Alumni Legacy Scholarship Program. Whether your gift is $10, $100, and $1,000, every gift is needed and appreciated by the worthy recipients of these scholarships. Contributions to the scholarship program may be made in honor of, or as a tribute to, an individual or group. Named scholarships are available so you might honor multiple family graduates or a person who has been meaningful in your life.

For more information on how you can contribute, review the menu at the top of this page or contact me directly at LimaShawneeScholarshipFund@gmail.com. 

Tom Orchard, SHS Class of 1970 

Chair, Lima Shawnee Alumni Legacy Scholarship Program