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Planning Your Legacy

Lawrence University's liberal arts & sciences college and Conservatory of Music is committed to providing an environment for our students to pursue passions, spark change, and shine more brilliantly than they ever imagined. Your desire to make a difference and leave a lasting legacy helps strengthen Lawrence's mission. Consider making an impact for students and faculty through a planned gift. These types of charitable arrangements may provide tax and other benefits to you while supporting Lawrence.

Our Mission

Planning Your Legacy

Your desire to make a difference and leave a lasting legacy helps strengthen Lawrence's mission. Consider making an impact for students and faculty through a planned gift. These types of charitable arrangements may provide tax and other benefits to you while supporting Lawrence.

Our Mission
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What Lasts? — Annuity Beneficiary

What Lasts? — Annuity Beneficiary

Dr. Carolyn King Stephens M-D'62

I ask the question at three-score years and ten—the biblical life span. My marriage had its golden anniversary; four children are grown, educated, employed and married! We have nine darling grandchildren. My life is fulfilled, but my house is filled full.

What has lasting value? Our basement and bookshelves are bursting; desks and drawers are drooping. What should I toss? What can I leave to future generations?

I've learned sacred things are not often found in individual accomplishments, but in community with others. My family is my closest community, but my schools, church, city and nation, as well as the wellness of mankind form widening circles of love and lasting values. How can I demonstrate we are interconnected through community with others? That would be my legacy.

The partial solution is our gift to the Catharine Beecher Endowed Fund for Downer Women, honoring my father and mother (David and Winifred Hamel King M-D'38) and ensuring continuation of the pioneering, feminist, Downer Spirit, which so molded and formed my mother, myself and my sister (Judith King Peterson M-D'63). Two generations later, classes at Downer College of Lawrence University were shaping my son and my daughter (John Webster Stephens '87 and Stephanie Stephens Sutton '91) with liberal arts skills, wisdom and positive worldviews.

Once my decision was made, doing it was easy. One call is all it took to designate the Beecher Fund for one-seventh of an annuity my parents left me. My gift ensures that the Milwaukee college, which started enrolling under the Beecher Plan in 1848,* continues to be one of the oldest colleges continuously educating women in the nation. Now our Downer spirits will flow for perpetuity, to young women attending Downer College at Lawrence. Will you join me in building this legacy of lasting value?

*When Beecher began in Milwaukee there was no state; the school operated without a state charter until 1851


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Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle

The Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle recognizes alumni, parents and friends who remember Lawrence through a planned gift. We are grateful to the more than 1,090 members of Legacy Circle.