Enabling a Quality Education

Ever since her graduation from Centre in 2006, Macy Dykema Russell dreamed of having the financial stability to give back to the college that gave her so much. “I didn’t anticipate the wealth of knowledge Centre would bestow on me as a student outside the classroom,” says Macy. “I’d heard of the strength of the curriculum, but it was also the opportunities as an Orientation Assistant, playing varsity softball, Greek life, and being a Bonner Leader that helped shaped my path. Plus, the friendships you make, it’s for life!”

Macy’s dream to give back to Centre became reality through estate planning. Macy’s husband, Blair, was supportive of her dream and an equal partner in the decision to include Centre in their estate plans. “When we started our estate planning last year, the concept of giving back to Centre was an easy decision. The Centre community has always felt like family to me,” Macy says.

Macy and Blair used Centre’s planned giving website to assist them in the process of completing their estate plan. They said, “Using the Centre planned giving website was so easy and informative! We were just starting our research into estate planning and the Centre website had a wealth of information. It was easy to navigate and held many of the answers we were looking for (and unsuccessfully tried to Google!).”

Like many of Centre’s donors, Macy would not have been able to attend Centre without the scholarships she received. Through their estate plans, the Russells intend to support the sustainability of the college’s mission and create opportunity for deserving students to attend.

“It’s important for me to give back to Centre because the ability to pay for college shouldn’t stop someone from receiving a quality education,” Macy says. The Russells both work in education and “see firsthand how access to education can expand a student’s world.”

“Including Centre in your estate planning is a great way to offer your support to Centre and plan for that impact later in life. You might not be able to fund a building today, but including Centre in your estate plans is a great alternative way to leave your legacy.”

To find out how you can support future generations of Centre students, please contact Steve Lownds ’81 at (859) 238-5522 or steven.lownds@centre.edu or Jamey Leahey ’92 at (859) 238-5224 or leahey@centre.edu. They are happy to share the many ways you can impact students using both current assets, as well as future gifts through your estate. You can also visit the planned giving website.