Seminarian Education and Catholic Social Services Benefit from Substantial Bequest Gift

Don Stanley

Don Stanley
1937–2020

Seminarian education and the work of Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will be substantially and permanently enhanced due to a $1.2 million bequest divided equally between the two. The gift was received by The U.P. Catholic Foundation, Inc. from the estate of Don Stanley.

In the last 15 years of his life, Don Stanley established a trust to protect his assets and make sure those assets would be distributed according to his wishes. Among his wishes were to honor his Catholic faith by creating a legacy of care for seminarians and social services in the Upper Peninsula.

“I see God’s providence,” adds Father Ben Hasse, director of vocations for the Diocese of Marquette. “This gift is one of two significant bequest gifts that have come into the seminarian endowment since it was started and its really beginning to make an impact on the seminarian situation. Right now, with nine guys studying, our education costs are not an insignificant portion of the annual budget of the diocese. And the beautiful thing is, being an endowment, it’ll benefit them for perpetuity. So, not just this year and next year, but for a long time. A large gift shifts morale and perspective on what’s possible moving forward.”

The gift to Catholic Social Services (CSS) of the Upper Peninsula will establish the ministry’s first ever endowment fund. “This gift will be life-changing to our organization and the people it serves. Not only will the new endowment provide a sizable distribution in its first year and beyond, but also will serve as a new option for donors who want to support the work of CSS long into the future,” said Kyle Rambo, Executive Director of CSS.

Stanley attended Stambaugh Area High School in Iron Mountain, graduating in 1955. He was an excellent student and outstanding athlete. When his parents died during his senior year of high school, Stanley’s future became unclear. One of his teachers, Bill Ribich, saw something in young Stanley and encouraged him to go on to college. Ribich had a strong Catholic faith and may have influenced Stanley’s evolving faith life. Stanley received his degree in education from Northern Michigan University and began his career at Stambaugh Area Schools. He later earned an advanced degree in education and had a long career as a teacher and administrator in both upper and lower Michigan.

In every place he lived, Stanley actively participated in parish life and supported the needs of the Church and the priests alike. He was a gourmet cook and shared his talents with fellow parishioners. In his retirement, Don traveled extensively and attended Mass wherever he went. At one point, he supported a young man attending seminary in Poland, and also a parish in Arizona where he occasionally wintered. He enjoyed visiting the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Manitowoc, Wis. and bringing them gifts. He truly believed that their work was something special.

“He was a true Christian,” said Bill Luoma, a trusted friend and administrator of Stanley’s estate. “He was keen to identify churches, parishes, and priests particularly, that needed some help. He was a true believer in taking care of the congregation.”

Stanley and his former teacher, Ribich, maintained a lifelong friendship and a shared bond of their Catholic faith. Ribbich had attended seminary briefly after high school but was called away during WWII to serve in the U.S. Army. Following the war, he took a different path.

“Everyone has an estate and it just takes a little planning to share your intentions,” said Terri Gadzinski, director of stewardship for the Diocese of Marquette. To start planning a gift, contact Scott Fenley at (906) 227-9108 or sfenley@dioceseofmarquette.org.

Diocese of Marquette ~ 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855-8851 ~ 1 (800) 562-9745 ext.108

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to the Catholic Diocese of Marquette a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to the Catholic Diocese of Marquette, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the Church or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the Church as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the Church as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the Church where you agree to make a gift to the Church and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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