Rita Gleason
I have been part of Notre Dame for as long as I can remember! From Sr. Cecilia Wallace's first-grade classroom at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School to high school years at Notre Dame, Belmont, to serving as principal now at my alma mater, I count so many Notre Dame Sisters as mentors and friends. It has always been my hope that someday I would have the opportunity to give back financially to the Sisters who formed and nurtured me as a person and educator. When I mentioned my hope to the staff in the Province Development Office, I was told about a way I could, in fact, make a more significant gift and at the same time receive some income when I retire. What could be better? After going to the Sisters' website to learn about planned gift options, it makes me smile to think that my own story will now be on their website! If it encourages others to do something similar, I will be very pleased. Making a gift of a Deferred Gift Annuity to Sisters of Notre Dame this year allowed me to give them a larger gift than I would have thought possible because it also assures me that several years from now, the annuity will provide regular income for me. I also appreciate the tax deduction I now receive and the future income I will receive, some of which will be tax-free. I made my gift in honor of Sr. Cecilia Wallace who taught me to read, to write, to compute, to think, and to reflect and who always modeled what I try to do now in my role as principal: be attentive to one student at a time and let each one know that she is a special part of the Notre Dame community. I encourage other former students and friends of the Sisters to consider a Gift Annuity or Deferred Gift Annuity as a way of thanking them "for teaching us whatever was necessary to prepare us for life." | 