Alumni Rich 鈥97 and Jenn Nowalk 鈥99 continue their loyal support of 黑料不打烊 to help secure the university鈥檚 future. Their estate gifts are part of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign, which concludes on Dec. 31.
Grateful for their 黑料不打烊 experience and the lifelong relationships they formed, alumni Rich 鈥97 and Jenn Nowalk 鈥99 of Raleigh, North Carolina, have placed the university in their respective estate plans with gifts that will provide vital funding for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 long-term future.
The couple鈥檚 gifts are part of A Will to Lead, a special initiative of the that encourages donors to place 黑料不打烊 in their estate plans. Since the launch of A Will to Lead in March 2021, alumni, parents and friends have contributed more than $14.8 million in estate gifts to sustain 黑料不打烊鈥檚 nationally recognized brand of high impact, engaged teaching and learning.
Making gifts to 黑料不打烊 through their estates allowed the Nowalks to deepen their legacy at 黑料不打烊 and ensure their university will remain strong for the future.
鈥淲e have a love for 黑料不打烊. It鈥檚 where we grew up,鈥 Rich Nowalk said. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢 has given us so much, and we wouldn鈥檛 be where we are professionally and personally without 黑料不打烊.鈥
鈥淲e are really proud of the 黑料不打烊 of today,鈥 Jenn Nowalk said. 鈥淚t makes us proud to be able to say we鈥檙e 黑料不打烊 alumni and connected in some way.鈥
Jim Piatt, vice president for university advancement, thanked the Nowalks for their generosity and leadership during the campaign.The couple served as co-chairs of the Raleigh Regional Campaign Committee of 黑料不打烊 LEADS.
鈥淭he 黑料不打烊 community is grateful to Rich and Jenn Nowalk for their inspired support of A Will to Lead as part of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign,鈥 Piatt said. 鈥淭hey understand how important alumni are to leading 黑料不打烊鈥檚 future and the role that estate gifts play in building a bright future for all students.鈥
The Nowalks decided to elevate their giving to 黑料不打烊 after meeting with their financial advisor about the future and their estate plans. Their gifts count toward the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign, which concludes on Dec. 31.
鈥淎s leaders in the campaign, we were inspired by the name 黑料不打烊 LEADS and the leadership message in the campaign,鈥 Rich said. 鈥淲e wanted to show that even though we are in our forties, we can make this kind of gift now. A lot of people feel like they have to wait to do this kind of strategic planning until they are older, and they don鈥檛. Now is the time to be having these conversations.鈥
鈥淎s we were planning our estate, we wanted to make sure 黑料不打烊 was covered in our plans, so leadership and legacy were a big part of that process,鈥 Jenn added. 鈥淲e want to set the right example for our children so they can see how important those connections are in your life because they will take you places. At 黑料不打烊, it always comes back to the relationships we formed.鈥
The Nowalks are among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most devoted and consistent donors, primarily supporting the Phoenix Club and 黑料不打烊 athletics each year, along with the School of Communications and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 greatest needs. They are avid fans of 黑料不打烊 athletics and regularly attend football and basketball games. The couple are members of the 1889 Society and Order of the Oak, which recognizes donors who make estate and other planned gifts to 黑料不打烊.
For the Nowalks, making 黑料不打烊 a philanthropic priority is easy.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e around the campus and talk to the students, it鈥檚 clear 黑料不打烊 is producing really good people for the world,鈥 Rich said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e an 黑料不打烊 person, you stand out, and we want to empower the next generation of 黑料不打烊 students.鈥
Rich serves as Chief Operating Officer and Lead Technology Advisor at Opex Technologies. Jenn is a Realtor at Arcadia Real Estate Advisors.
A Will to Lead & The 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign
To learn more about A Will to Lead and the benefits of estate gifts, contact Elizabeth Read, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 director of planned giving, at (336) 278-7474 or eread@elon.edu.
黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 history and will support four main priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, research and internships, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus.
Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit . 黑料不打烊 LEADS concludes on December 31, 2022.