Westmont Magazine Wallace Emerson Society

When Stan ’69 and Judy Brinkman ’70 Gaede moved to Santa Barbara in 1996 so he could serve as provost at Westmont, they decided to update their will and estate plan. “When we thought about what we valued, Westmont popped right up, so we included a provision for the college,” explains Stan. “It was a much
easier process than I thought it would be,” Judy confides. Now that he is president of Westmont, Stan has gained new appreciation for Wallace Emerson Society members who leave a legacy through their estate. “These folks, who love the college now and provide for it in the future, are supporting one of our most critical needs: building our endowment,” Stan adds. “They are paying it forward — taking a very forward way of sustaining our institution.” When the Gaede family toured Italy last summer and enjoyed its many art treasures, they felt indebted to the patrons who supported artists. “I had never realized what a crucial role patrons played during the Renaissance,” Judy notes. “They really made it happen.” “That will be true at Westmont as well,” Stan says. “Our patrons, like Wallace Emerson Society members, will be the ones we credit for helping us create a legacy of excellent, Christ-centered education.”

For more information about the Wallace Emerson Society, call Iva Schatz, Director of Planned Giving, (805) 565-6034 or (800) 998-5652.