LEGACY SUMMER 2021
M I L L I K I N U N I V E RS I T Y’S P L A N N E D G I V I N G N E WS L E T T E R
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LEGACY SPOTLIGHT Sue Pilling, Class of 1974
If you’ve visited Millikin’s campus, then you may already know the Pilling name from Pilling Chapel and the Pilling Family Pedestrian Bridge at the Center for Theatre and Dance. Sue Pilling, Class of 1974 and Board of Trustee member, continues her family’s legacy of service and generosity at Millikin. When Sue was a child, her parents took advantage of Millikin’s prestigious music and dance programs and enrolled her in music and dance lessons. After graduating from Eisenhower High School, Sue attended Millikin and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. She remained in Decatur and taught grades fourth through sixth at Centennial Magnet School, then taught math at Thomas Jefferson Middle School for 25 years before retiring. Sue and her husband raised their children in Decatur’s west end neighborhood, near Millikin’s campus. “Our kids spent many years on the swim team and at Kirkland events, and our daughter played the cello and participated in music competitions,” said Sue. “My son was a teen before he realized he couldn’t live at the Tri Delta sorority house!” she laughed.
When it came time for Sue’s daughter, Alison Hershfelt Washington, Class of 2001, to search for colleges, “she compared everything to Millikin,” said Sue. Although Alison was adamant that she wouldn’t stay in Decatur for college, Sue and her husband convinced her to attend a prospective student visit day at Millikin. “She wouldn’t let us attend with her, but she was thrilled and decided immediately that Millikin was the school she wanted to attend,” said Sue. Once Alison started classes, Sue said, she never gave a second thought to being so close to home (although she did stop by to do laundry from time to time). Sue’s service to Millikin includes past membership on the Alumni Association Board and current membership on Millikin’s Board of Trustees, where she serves on the Alumni & Development and Evaluation Committees. Sue’s husband, Bob Walker, serves as Chair of the Associates Board. The couple also donates their time and treasure to other worthwhile endeavors. Sue serves on the Decatur Public Schools Foundation Board and has previously volunteered at the Decatur Correctional Center and worked with survivors of domestic violence at Dove, Inc. Bob volunteered at the Taylorville Correctional Center in Taylorville, Ill. “I participate in service work because it’s what I saw my parents and grandmothers do as I grew up,” explained Sue.
“My family believes in the power of a college education – we owe Millikin for what it has given us.”
SUE PILLING & BOB WALKER
Sue’s parents, Frank E. “Bud” Pilling and Lauri Pilling moved their family to Decatur from California while Sue was in kindergarten for Bud’s career with Borg Warner. Bud served as group president of Borg Warner’s Automotive Division and Joint Ventures and later served as chief operating officer of Echlin Corporation until his retirement in 1983. Bud and Lauri became passionate Millikin supporters upon their arrival in Decatur. Bud served on Millikin’s Board of Trustees for 21 years. In the mid-1990s, Bud and Laurie made a generous gift to fund the construction of Pilling Chapel, Millikin’s interfaith place of worship, completed in 1997. Bud and Lauri blended cash gifts with stock transfers to make their gift. “My parents believed that their success in life was God-given and wanted to give back,” said Sue. “They thoroughly enjoyed the process of being involved in the planning of the chapel.”
BUD & LAURI PILLING
PILLING CHAPEL
Prior to his death in December 2019, Bud expressed the desire to contribute to the Center for Theatre and Dance. After Bud’s passing, Sue and past president Dr. Patrick E. White put their heads together to create a project to honor Bud and Laurie’s years of dedicated service. Ultimately, that project became the Pilling Family Pedestrian Bridge at the Center for Theatre and Dance, funded by gifts from the Frank Pilling Trust and the Pilling Family Foundation. Sue and Bob are now retired in Osage Beach, Mo., where they live within walking distance of the Lake of the Ozarks and stay busy cruising on the lake, riding wave runners, swimming, paddle-boarding and enjoying visits from their grandchildren. Their passion for Millikin University and the Decatur community remains as strong as ever. “My husband and I support the University to show our appreciation for the education Millikin offers, especially in the performing arts,” said Sue. “It is an asset to the community and gave several of our family members an excellent foundation for their careers.”
2 021 S UMMER
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EACH ISSUE, WE WILL ANSWER COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT UNIQUE WAYS TO MAKE A GIFT TO MILLIKIN
INVESTORS SOCIETY
M I L L IK IN
U N IV E R S I T Y
LUNCHEON & INDUCTION CEREMONY
Sunday, October 24 at 11:30 a.m. Mark your calendar for MU’s annual Investors Society luncheon and induction ceremony. Members of the Investors Society will gather to share a meal and hear exciting campus updates from President Jim Reynolds. If you have included Millikin in your estate plans and have not yet joined the Investors Society, let us know! Visit millikin.edu/investor to tell us about your gift. You can remain anonymous, if you choose.
HOW DAFS WORK:
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS Donor Advised Funds, or DAFs, are charitable investment accounts that exist for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations. The three largest organizations that sponsor DAFs are Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund. Many community foundations sponsor DAFs, as well.
Generally, DAFs follow these three steps to help donors direct their charitable gifts. • The donor makes a tax-deductible contribution of cash, stocks, or non-publicly traded assets to the DAF. • The DAF invests your donation, allowing it to earn interest and grow. • After a period of time, the donor directs the DAF to make a contribution to a qualified public charity, such as Millikin University.
HOW TO MAKE A GIFT WITH DAFS: You must enter into an agreement with an organization that sponsors DAFs. Do you already have a DAF with Fidelity, Schwab, or BNY Mellon? We’ve made it easy to give directly from your DAF to Millikin. Simply visit millikin.edu/ways-give and use the DAF Direct tool on our website. It’s easy to use and there are no extra fees.
millikin.edu/ways-give For more information regarding the Investors Society or any of Millikin’s planned giving options, including gifts that can earn you income, contact: CALL: Caroline Bruder, Class of 2008 at 217.424.3960 EMAIL: investorssociety@millikin.edu
The information contained in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice and cannot be relied upon to avoid statutory penalties. The figures cited in examples are intended to be hypothetical illustrations only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes reference federal taxes only. State income and estate taxes may impact your results. Always consult with your financial planner or attorney before implementing any gift.
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Ramona Russell Borders
LEGACY
IMPACT
Millikin University humbly recognizes the gifts that our donors have provided through their estates. We are grateful for the
Ramona Russell Borders, of Decatur, a friend of the University, made a gift through her estate to benefit the President Patrick E. White Scholarship. Ramona created this scholarship during her lifetime, to honor Millikin’s 15th president.
Lelah Hachenberg Nebold CLASS OF 1907
Lelah Hachenberg Nebold, Class of 1907, of Stonington, Ill., created a charitable remainder unitrust to benefit Millikin. Her gift was unrestricted and was allocated by the University to the endowment and the Millikin Fund.
investments they have made in the futures of our students, campus and community, and for the legacies that they leave behind through their commitment to the University and its progress. We wish to honor their lives and memories, and express our heartfelt appreciation for their generosity.
Lloyd & Helen Fahrnkopf Maurer CLASS OF 1949
Lloyd and Helen Fahrnkopf Maurer, Class of 1949, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., created a charitable remainder unitrust to benefit Millikin. Their gift was unrestricted and was allocated by the University to the endowment and the Millikin Fund.
ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT 1184 West Main Street Decatur, Illinois 62522
NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID DECATUR, IL PERMIT NO.127
millikin.edu/planned-giving
Questions? Contact Caroline Colby Bruder, Class of 2008, special counsel with Alumni & Development
217.424.3960
cbruder@millikin.edu
1184 West Main Street, Decatur, Illinois 62522