Gift Planning Donor Stories
We pay tribute to the memories of special friends in the stories below. Each believed strongly in the college's distinct Christian higher education mission, and they expressed their gratitude by including Westmont in their estate plans.
Former Pitchers Offer Relief to Westmont Baseball Players
Baseball brought Erik Ellefson ’97, Joe Ellett ’97 and Chris Kurz ’97 together when they all pitched for the Warriors. “We became fast friends,” Erik says. “Hanging out with Erik our freshman year made Westmont come alive for me,” Joe says.
Trustee's Love of College Mission Expressed through Charitable Remainder Trust
The late David Cole said a central theme of his life was watching things grow. A Westmont trustee from 1994-2006, he witnessed the remarkable growth that occurs in students while they're enrolled at the college.
A Bequest for the Liberal Arts from Former Trustee
Marilyn Bjorklund '55 Hayes and her late husband Ed ’53 Hayes began their life together at Westmont, and they circled back to Santa Barbara in 1997 when he retired. Living in Santa Barbara allowed them to participate in many college activities including athletics, music and art.
Music Ministry and Giving Back through a Charitable Remainder Trust
For more than 65 years, Howie Stevenson ’50 ministered through music, often in partnership with his late wife, Marilyn Danielson Stevenson ’53. At college events, in churches and during summer conferences they shared their musical gifts with skill and joy.
Serving the Lord by Remembering Westmont in their Trust
Gracious, selfless and caring, John Watts helped countless people plan their estates prior to his death in 2015, at the age of 85. He built strong support for Westmont through his heartfelt friendships and, in partnership with his wife Patty, John developed the college’s planned giving program.
Faithful Friends Leave a Retirement Account Provision for Westmont
Carol Ashor, a Santa Barbara native, met her late husband Gil when he decided to spend a summer as an extern at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara while a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh. The Ashors created an irrevocable trust funded by Gil’s Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to benefit Westmont and several other ministries. They are honored members of the Wallace Emerson Society.
A Good Age for a Charitable Gift Annuity
The late Frank Johnson '51 flew as a combat pilot during World War II, and the experience left him depressed and traumatized. In despair after several failed treatments, he picked up a Gideon Bible in his hospital room and began to read. "The Scriptures led me to rededicate my life to Christ and began my healing," he shared.