Donor Stories

Learn how others have made an impact through their acts of giving to our organization and others.

Bernie Wiseman '69 has spent a lifetime bringing voices together. An accomplished choir director from tiny Edinburg, Illinois, Bernie has directed and performed all around the country...
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Sam�s Plan

Sam Porritt �84 had a plan. He didn�t want to attend a huge school and get lost in a sea of thousands of students. He wanted the personal touch of a small, liberal arts university, and he found it at Illinois Wesleyan.
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Power In Community

For Illinois Wesleyan alumnus Howard Fricke '60, there is tremendous power in communities that come together for the greater good.

"If we rely on them, they aren't going to change anything," he said. "We have to make it happen."
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Finding Joy in Giving Back

Carol Willis '68 never got to be the star player. She never even got to be on the team. Growing up in a time when opportunities for girls to participate in high school athletics were somewhere between scarce and nonexistent, Carol had to watch...
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Shaping the Next Generation

As Jack '70 and Ellie (Hancock) King '71 prepare for milestone class reunions—Jack will celebrate his 50th this year; Ellie will mark hers next year—the memories come flooding back.

Good friends. Influential professors. Campus events. And, of course, meeting each other.

Giving Back for Generations of Affinity for IWU

When visiting family in St. Louis, Tom '70 and Marilyn (Thies) Neis '71 would pack up the family car and make the journey down Interstate 55 from their suburban Chicago home. Tom and Marilyn's alma mater of Illinois Wesleyan provided...
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Gift Continues Couple's Advocacy for Peace and Justice

Robert and Marilyn (Degler) McClean '55 have dedicated their lives to advocating for peace and justice issues.

Through a planned estate gift...

A Legacy Unlike Any Other

Ask Vic '68 and Margie (Carrigan) Lisciani '69 about their time at Illinois Wesleyan and the memories come flooding out.

Friends made. Classes taken. Events attended.

So many memories they...

Strengthening the Foundation for Students' Futures

Pat Armstrong '70 credits her Illinois Wesleyan experience for preparing her for a successful career and lifelong appreciation of the arts. The breadth and depth of the learning she did while on campus provided the foundation for...

A Strong Foundation for the Next Generation

Illinois Wesleyan University provided a transformative experience to help launch a career in nursing for Suzanne Vertuno '70.

Now she wants a new generation of students to have...

Creating Lands of Opportunity

Some 164 years ago, a local family sold land to Illinois Wesleyan University. The east gates welcoming students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus will soon be named in their honor.

Representing Illinois Wesleyan Abroad

Sean O'Carroll '18 will represent Illinois Wesleyan University as a J. William Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Malaysia next year.

O'Carroll will leave for Malaysia in...

Setting Up Students for Success After IWU

Cathy Carswell '65 considered many options when directing a gift to Illinois Wesleyan left by her late husband. But after learning of the newly launched Career Immersion Excursion program, she didn't need to hear any more.

A Cause to Be Passionate About

Norb and Linda Gross understand the need for The Parent Fund perhaps better than anyone.

When Norb's father passed away one week after his high school graduation—and six years after his mother's death—Norb found himself on his own three months before enrolling in college.

A Way to Be Remembered

The most fitting tribute to a lifelong educator, friends of Glen Newton '56 decided, was to provide the gift of education to young, deserving students who needed a little help.

The Glen and Shirley Newton Scholarship was...

First-Generation Grad Gives Back to Illinois Wesleyan as Expression of Gratitude

From a single-parent household in a small, historic Swedish community of Bishop Hill, Illinois, Greg Dowell '81 was the first in his family to attend a four-year college. He was looking for a strong community where...
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Hutson '24 Carries Father's Titan Legacy

First-year biology major Evan Hutson '24 is following in the footsteps of his father, Chad Hutson '95, as an Illinois Wesleyan University student.

"From observing his actions for the last 18 years, I see what kind of people IWU admits: kind, generous and...

Doing Her Part: In WWII and for IWU

The Rodgers-Shepard family legacy at Illinois Wesleyan University has spanned four generations. Because the late Myra Shepard chose to leave provisions in her estate for students at Illinois Wesleyan, this legacy ...
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A Win-Win Way to Give

In a recent communication with Illinois Wesleyan University's Advancement Office, Carl Behr '47 scribbled a note in the corner of his written response:

" How much is that annuity up to?" he asked.

Lifetime Giver Encourages Others to Find Ways to Donate

Illinois Wesleyan alumnus Charles Kulier and wife Beatrice have a strong charitable giving philosophy, donating substantial amounts to their church and alma maters.

"The more we give away, the more God seems...

Seeding Entrepreneurship at IWU

Dave Petrick '67 describes himself as a "product guy," and that's understandable. His company, Bretford Manufacturing, produces thousands of technology furniture products for schools and business.

Extending the Gratitude So Others Benefit From the IWU Experience

Doctors Roger and Carol Sheldon have deep regard for Illinois Wesleyan University for many reasons-the academic preparation they had to succeed as physicians, the relationships they formed with professors and classmates, and the financial assistance they received to make the IWU experience possible.

Betty Ritchie-Birrer's Generosity Makes Study Abroad Possible for Students

Thankful for the impact Illinois Wesleyan had on her life, Betty Ritchie-Birrer has made several significant gifts to Illinois Wesleyan. One of those gifts makes it possible for students to take their thirst for knowledge and wisdom far beyond the borders of campus.

Generations of Giving Back to IWU

Bob Field '67 has a long family connection to Illinois Wesleyan University that spreads over three generations, including his mother, an uncle and two of Bob and wife Jenny's three daughters.

Bob and Jenny met during their primary school years at church and began dating during college while Bob was at IWU.

Remembering Illinois Wesleyan

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Bob Lewis' graduation from Illinois Wesleyan, and it also marks 60 years since Bob's first gift to IWU.

Remarkably, Bob has made a gift to IWU every year since his graduation on June 3, 1956. It's a habit he developed for a simple reason.

Jarvis Makes Leadership Gift to School of Nursing Campaign

Thanks to a generous leadership gift by nursing professor Carolyn Jarvis and support from the entire faculty and staff of the School of Nursing, the $2.2 million Redesigning the Future campaign was successfully launched at the Homecoming nursing breakfast.

Investing in Quality Education

Bob and Diane Thorstenson have included Illinois Wesleyan in their estate plans for one simple reason: They believe in the University's mission and principles.

Diane, a 1957 graduate, says the University's faculty-student ratio means...

The Power of 160 Acres of Farmland

In July, 1853, Kersey Fell-brother of Jesse Fell, a founder of Illinois Wesleyan University- bought 160 acres of land four miles South and four miles East of Anchor, Ill. This was typical high-quality farmland that would yield abundant crops of

Samuels Scholarship Changes Lives at IWU

Few gifts offer greater satisfaction than a gift to establish a scholarship. Carl and Brucy Mae Samuels were able to experience that satisfaction firsthand. Although neither attended Illinois Wesleyan, in 1986 the couple established

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