Westmont Magazine Give a Gift, Get an Income
Throughout their lives, Paul ’56 and Nancy Vriend ’57 Preddy have found ways to serve. In their professions — education and nursing — they have focused on helping others. For six years, they lived in Zaire and helped establish a missionary school there. Now that they’ve retired, they volunteer at a center that ministers to the poor and homeless.
The Preddys have also found a way to serve Westmont by setting up a deferred gift annuity. Initially, they intended to make a bequest to the college in their estate plan. But after further thought, they decided to make their planned gift now and receive fixed payments for life, beginning in 2003. In addition to receiving payments, they are making a gift to Westmont.
“We are grateful for our Westmont years, and realize that they cost more than the tuition we paid,” Paul explains. “We want to contribute so that others may enjoy the same rich experiences that helped us grow. We especially want to help those who have limited resources, but show unlimited potential.”
“Westmont was a good school in the ’50s, and it has become an excellent school today,” Nancy adds. “The administration and faculty have done remarkably well with the resources they’ve had, and we trust them to do even greater things with increased resources, especially with a growing endowment.”
The Preddys are glad they chose a deferred gift annuity. “It is fun to be able to give now, and it’s more personal than giving through a will and letting the lawyers have all the fun after we’re gone,” says Paul. “At the same time, we feel secure in knowing that there is a dependable income as long as we need it. We are so pleased with the concept of the annuity that we have done the same thing for several of our favorite ministries, but Westmont has received our largest gift to date.”
During his long career as an educator, Paul served as vice principal and principal at several schools in the San Diego area. He believes fervently that Christians belong in the public schools, although he acknowledges the challenges that teachers face.
Paul has never ducked a challenge. When he retired from the school system, he set up Neighborhood Care Center, a ministry of College Avenue Baptist Church in San Diego that helps the poor and homeless. He directs the center and also works with the local Prison Fellowship organization. The founder of All Care Prison Network, Paul helps coordinate services for people coming out of prison.
A labor and delivery nurse, Nancy also raised three children. David ’81 is a CPA, Paula Lloyd is a nurse, and Steven is a program analyst and manager for a San Diego firm. The Preddy’s seven grandchildren live nearby, so they are able to spend time with family.
Until she began caring for her 101-year-old father, Nancy enjoyed taking in international students. “It was a ministry, but it was also an enriching experience,” she notes.
Making a difference is important to the Preddys, and they look for substantive ways to do so. They appreciate the impact their alma mater is making. “Westmont’s faithfulness to its mission and to the gospel give us the confidence that we are contributing to more than a school — to lives, to Christian leadership, and to the kingdom of God.”