Criminal Justice major, athlete
Detroit, Mich.
Scholarship Recipient

Jeremy’s story: Growing up in the shadow of Tiger Stadium in downtown Detroit, Jeremy struggled through high school and didn’t think he would get the opportunity to go to college. He was thinking about possibly enlisting in the Marines when Siena Heights’ coaching staff discovered him at a local AAU tryout. Thanks to a scholarship, Jeremy is currently attending Siena Heights, studying criminal justice and is a member of the Saints’ track and basketball teams.

The Opportunity: “I’m happy to be here. I’m the first to go to college in my family. Children back home look up to me. I’m not only obligated to myself to be here in college, I also want to give somebody else hope from where I’m from. Being successful I think will help other people out.”

What a scholarship has meant: “This scholarship gives me hope. Siena’s like another small family, which I needed. I am able to be more focused in school. I appreciate the scholarship a lot. I’m grateful.”

Livonia, Mich.
Planned Giving

As an engineer for the Ford Motor Co. for 30 years before his retirement in 2002, Dave Stevens is big on reliability.

So when he started thinking about a planned giving program with Siena Heights University, Stevens was introduced to a life insurance annuity. Under this giving program, Stevens took out a life insurance policy for $350,000, listing Siena Heights as the beneficiary. He writes a check each year to pay for the premium. However, he gives the check to Siena, who then pays the premium for him. This allows Stevens to use his payment as a tax write off.

“It’s really worthwhile because it guarantees the amount of giving,” said Stevens, a Livonia, Mich., resident. “You don’t have to worry about writing a check every time you turn around. I wanted to have a steady program of giving instead of having it be haphazard.”

“Anyone interested in supporting Siena Heights should also look at planned giving,” said SHU Vice President of Advancement Mitchell Blonde. “There are ways to set up a planned gift so that the donor enjoys tax benefits and guaranteed income while also supporting Siena Heights and its mission.”

Stevens is a 1981 graduate of Siena’s Metro Detroit program who continues to be active with the university, serving on its alumni board. He said his Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Siena helped him better understand how business and business politics operate.

“I feel like it’s a very good school and it benefitted me an awful lot,” Stevens said.

“Setting up a planned gift is not difficult,” Blonde said. “And there are a variety of ways to set up a planned gift that will be beneficial to both you and the institution.”

To learn more about a planned giving program, please contact the Advancement Office at 1-800-693-0506.

Al and Julie Brittain
Adrian, Mich.

“The more you give, the more you receive.”

This is one of Allan Brittain’s favorite expressions. Allan, a retired banker and former SHU trustee, and his wife, Julie, a retired schoolteacher, have found this phrase to be true from their giving experience. The couple encourages others to test this statement for themselves.

“Giving becomes a part of my life,” Allan said. “It becomes part of the joy when you actually feel that. … We all have some sort of ability to give and many don’t realize it and therefore they go through life and pass away and never experience what that joy really is.”

The Brittains recently established a charitable remainder trust (CRT) which names Siena Heights University as a beneficiary. CRTs enable donors to make a significant gift, receive a partial tax deduction and receive income for life. The income can be fixed or variable.

“We control how it is being invested,” Allan said of how the trust works. “We will get an income for the rest of our lives. My wife and I, for the rest of our lives, are going to annually receive a percentage of the value.”

The Brittains said they are pleased to be leaving a legacy of giving.

“Look at what you have and do something. Do something,” Allan said. “It will pay you over and over and over. It’s beautiful.”