Leaving A Legacy At LeTourneau University
Faithfulness, Dedication, & Commitment
The Courson Society is named after Rita Courson, who has faithfully served the LeTourneau University Development office and LeTourneau University donors for nearly 50 years.
Her service represents sacrifice, dedication, and commitment to the students and the mission of LeTourneau University.
These same qualities embody those who willingly commit a part of their legacy (through an estate, legacy plan, or planned gift) to LeTourneau University and thus become a member of The Courson Society.
Hear Their Stories
Those who intend to leave a legacy at LeTourneau University often work through a variety of different means, including their wills and estate plans, as well as varied forms of planned giving. The separately organized LeTourneau University Foundation was established in July 2018 to serve our alumni and friends in just this way. The Foundation's mission is to help individuals and families consider their faith story, their family's needs, and their charitable intentions, all at one time. With their many years of combined experience in this arena, the Foundation can help you arrive at strategic ways to accomplish your goals and meet your family's needs. Illustrations of that are below:
Scott & Alecia Patterson
Scott ('89) and Alecia recently found themselves at a crossroads as they entered into a new era in their lives. As they contemplated what that might look like, and how it might be facilitated for, a Charitable Remainder Unitrust through The LeTourneau University Foundation became an ideal solution. Through this arrangement an income need has been met, while at the same time allowing them to secure a future gift to their alma mater – very advantageously from a tax standpoint, and overall, comprehensively.
Doug & Carol Roszhart
Doug ('84) and Carol ('84) had in their heart a desire to do something meaningful for their alma mater in their overall estate and legacy planning, but also felt the need to assure there was sufficient income for their retirement needs. Saving taxes, including the most efficient way to minimize, if not outright avoid capital gains taxes on long term growth assets, was also top of mind for them. With the help of The LeTourneau University Foundation, a solution known as a Charitable Remainder Unitrust was carefully constructed as the most optimal means to address both of these desires … achieve a tax favored income during retirement - while at the same time assuring a meaningful end gift to LeTourneau University.
Harold & Mary LeTourneau
Harold (great nephew of R.G.) and Mary knew they wanted to do something meaningful for LeTourneau University, but at the same time, they wanted to be strategic in how they structured their intention. As Harold is an entrepreneur in his own right, they also knew that if there was a way to make a gift to LETU, while also providing income to them (that could be deployed to various purposes), that would be all the better. After discussion on this, a Charitable Remainder Unitrust, made available through The LeTourneau University Foundation, was opted for as the vehicle of choice – an option that was flexible in structure initially, but could continue to be so should they feel led to add to it over time.
Larry & Connie Ethridge
After attending a recent seminar conducted by The LeTourneau University Foundation on the topic of Estate and Legacy Planning. Larry ('58) and Connie entered into a strategic discussion with the Foundation on what their unique Plan might look like - and how what they had in their heart to do for LETU could be secured. Part of the solution arrived at was an endowed scholarship aimed at benefitting future students, to the end that just as their future was secured through their time at LETU, so also could theirs be from their time here.
Join the Courson Society
Those who have recognized LeTourneau Univeristy in their estate or legacy plan are automatically members of The Courson Society. There are a wide array of options for including LeTourneau in this way - from wills and trusts to stock gifts, endowments, and more.
Endowed Scholarships
Establish an endowed scholarship with $25k or more for student scholarships, for professorships, or for operations. These can be established over a period of years or through legacy planning.
Giving Through Your Estate
A charitable gift from your estate is a favored method of giving that enables you to achieve your financial goals and your charitable intentions.
Giving & Generating Income
Planned giving is a great way to support LeTourneau University while generating income for yourself and your family. Learn about the gifts that allow you to give to LeTourneau University and other charities close to your heart, while generating income for yourself and your family.
Other Ways to Give
There are numerous ways to support the mission of LeTourneau University. Contact The LeTourneau University Foundation (letufoundation.org | 903-233-3833) for more information.
“Estate and Legacy Planning” – Does it Really Matter?
Think about this: early in the life of Israel we see the Lord repeatedly reminding them about the importance of passing on to “their children and their children’s children” God’s testimony of faithfulness (Deuteronomy 4:9 and following). God went on to tell the children of Israel that He wasn't’t talking directly with their children, but rather with them – because “their eyes had seen” all that the Lord had done (Deuteronomy 11:2-7).
Estate planning, when done with intentionality and by including a narrative of one’s life, can be an incredible means of motivating future generations. Further empowering such planning with
Watch for our next installment where we will purpose to unpack …
- what estate and legacy planning is
- why it’s important
- what it looks like
and most importantly,
- how it can be a compelling motivation for succeeding generations when it is empowered with an integrated level of charitable gift planning
As always, if we can be of service to you in this area, or for any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to email us at leavealegacy@letufoundation.org or call us toll-free at 903-500-2972 and ask for Tom Bevan.
And always a proper disclaimer: When considering what we might point to by way of a benefit to you in any given situation, always assure to consult your legal and tax advisor for what qualifies as the actual tax treatment of that scenario in your unique situation.
Scholarships play a major role in the lives of LETU students. More than 90% of the student body receives financial assistance from scholarships, grants, and loans. But with graduating seniors incurring significant financial debt, it is our goal to lessen the burden and increase our scholarship aid. Endowed scholarships play a vital role in decreasing the debt burden on students.
Why do LETU alumni and friends choose to establish Endowed Scholarship Funds?
- To perpetuate the memory or legacy of a loved one;
- To honor positive role models who have significantly influenced others;
- To invest in today's students who will influence every workplace and every nation for Christ tomorrow.
Endowed Scholarships provide significant impact:
- Equip leaders for tomorrow today;
- Recruit and retain outstanding students seeking the hands-on, Christ-centered education that has for decades been the strength of LETU;
- Recognize and reward outstanding performance by students with demonstrated financial need.
Endowed professorships, chairs, programs and schools are also available. Call 903.233.3833 to establish your endowment today.
Many companies will match their employees' charitable gifts. Some will even match the donations of retirees or employees' spouses! You can make your money double or even triple and at the same time invest in students' lives.
If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer's Human Resources department. Complete, sign and send in the completed form with your gift- every time you give a gift! Inform your employer of your donation and give them LeTourneau University's mailing address (2100 S. Mobberly Ave. Longview, TX 75607) so they can make the match. We will do the rest.
Giving a cash gift isn't the only way you can support LeTourneau University students. All you have to do is sign up for all the programs below and then let your shopping do the donating. It's that easy! Your normal, everyday shopping will help the LETU Annual Fund provide scholarship aid to deserving students. Thank you!
Give by Shopping
You're going to buy things anyway, right? Here are some ways your purchase can benefit LeTourneau University.
Amazon Smile
Start your shopping at smile.amazon.com, choose LeTourneau University as your selected organization, and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases.
Kroger
If you are a KrogerPlus member, Kroger's Community Rewards program donates a portion of your eligible purchases to the organization of your choice. Choose LETU! Visit https://www.kroger.com/topic/kroger-community-rewards-3 to enroll with your membership card and choose LeTourneau University (NPO# 84780). Don't forget to re-enroll each year to continue in the Community Rewards program.
Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb's Good Neighbor Program allows customers to direct donation dollars to a favorite church, school or other non-profit organization. Visit the courtesy booth at your local store to link your reward card to our account (use our Charity# 9090).
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