A Heart for Giving

BY LANCE SCHWARTZ • DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION

Bethany alumni Jon ('84) and Cindy Natvig ('85) recently helped the College with a special, unsolicited gift. After selling shares in a piece of real estate, the couple had intended to donate to Bethany’s annual fund. However, after discussing the initial gift with Bethany’s Director of Development Christopher Kind, the Natvigs were able to both add to their annual fund gift, and make impactful contributions to other campus needs.

Kind and the Natvigs discussed their original gift just after it was received at the College, and they mentioned that they were interested in supporting the Nursing Program. They’ve both worked in the longterm care industry for a number of years, and their daughter is also a nurse, so they’ve seen firsthand the demand for quality nurses. The two also chose to honor the memory of Jon’s mother, Naomi Natvig, by donating to the All-Steinway fund, which is helping to add new pianos to the campus.

Cindy Natvig explained more about their special connection to and affinty for Bethany.

“Jon’s mom graduated from Bethany High School, and his dad, Dennis, graduated from Bethany College,” said Cindy. “His dad went on to work as the Bethany Business Manager for over 30 years, all of our siblings attended Bethany, and Jon and I met at Bethany. Bethany is like a part of our family! We’re very proud that Bethany started the nursing program. Having high quality nurses with strong Christian ethics is so important in the health care industry. We’re happy to do whatever we could to support them.”

While Kind was discussing the tremendous impact of their gift, Jon and Cindy offered to increase their donation if there was something the Nursing Program specifically required. Kind contacted Bethany’s Director of Nursing, Sara Traylor, about the Department “wish list” and the Natvigs decided to purchase a Heart and Lung Sounds Simulator and assist with funding nursing students’ study abroad trips.

Traylor noted, “In our nursing program, students are able to learn and practice nursing skills using a variety of equipment that mimics the natural human body. Equipment such as the Heart and Lung Sounds Simulator allows students to learn and recognize normal and abnormal heart and lung sounds. Students are better prepared to identify conditions or complications that might not be experienced with a human patient in clinical. As more responsibility is placed on the professional nurse, being able to provide multiple learning opportunities is essential for the development and success of the student nurse.”

Donating assets is a terrific way to make a special gift for Bethany. Gifts such as these positively impact programs and students while fulfilling the donor’s desire to maximize and personalize their gift. Bethany thanks Jon and Cindy Natvig for their generous support.

If you’d like to discuss giving options, or make a gift to Bethany, please call our Advancement Office at 800-944-3066.

Nursing students (from left) Ellen Bruesch, Marlee Gram, and Jessica Geib with the Heart and Lung Sounds Simulator.

Photo by David Norris