Gift Planning

  1. Gift Planning
  2. Why We Give
  3. James and Hazel Block Teufel

Inspired by Former Coach, Teufels Give Back to University

James '72, M.Ed. '76 and Hazel Block Teufel '72 establish a scholarship for Miami student-athletes

James and Hazel Block Teufel

James and Hazel Block Teufel

On the last day of football practice his sophomore year at Miami University, James Teufel '72, M.Ed. '76 suffered a knee injury that required surgery and put his college education at risk. James was not on scholarship at the time and money was tight. It was unlikely he would be able to return to Miami and resume his studies.

So, James had a talk with his coach, Bill Mallory '57. Bill was in his first stop as a college head coach, the beginning of a Hall of Fame career that would lead to eventual enshrinement in Miami's fabled Cradle of Coaches. Bill listened when James told him he did not know if he could continue at Miami, and the coach came up with a solution. Finding enough scholarship money, Bill ensured James would return to the classroom to pursue his passion of industrial arts. "I've never forgotten that," James says.

Nor has he forgotten Miami, where he met his wife, Hazel Block Teufel '72, in a pre-student teaching class in 1970. Following Bill's lead of compassion and generosity, James and Hazel have endowed the James R. and Hazel M. Teufel Scholarship. "We thought it would be nice to do something for student-athletes," James says. "We just can't wait to see next fall who the first person is going to be to receive this."

Each earning a bachelor's degree in education, the Teufels began their teaching careers after graduation—James at Delphos in northern Ohio and Hazel in the Dixie school system in New Lebanon, Ohio. They married in 1973. Both also kept connections to athletics. James served first as a football coach, then as a jack-of-all-trades, coaching golf, track and field, and basketball. Hazel spent several years as a cheerleading coach, first at Dixie and then later at Eaton, where she taught Spanish and English for 18 years.

By designating Miami University Foundation as a beneficiary of their estate, James and Hazel established a scholarship that will be awarded to one or more varsity student-athletes from the State of Ohio. Because their gift will be a minimum of $1 million, it is part of the university's Match the Promise Enduring Legacy Initiative. Enduring Legacy provides current scholarship support for testamentary commitments of $1 million or more, allowing the contributors the chance to see their scholarship impact now. Miami provides annual scholarship payments for four academic years in an amount equal to 5 percent of the donors' total commitment. The Teufels' first scholarships will be given in the 2018–2019 academic year.

With careful planning and consolidation, the Teufels simplified their estate starting with real estate in two states, their home in West Alexandria, Ohio, and also in South Carolina. Combining stocks and bonds was their next step. James, who took a leave of teaching and entered financial planning, saw an opportunity.

"A lot of this money was just kind of sitting there," he says. "We put it in a couple of investment funds, and they just kind of exploded. That was the second part of the puzzle. We took everything and consolidated it in one brokerage company. It's in a place where, if anything happens to both of us, it will be directed here for a scholarship. We've done some things to ensure there will be positive growth."

Both James and Hazel had positive experiences in Oxford. While James discovered Miami late in his high school years in Mason, Ohio—he originally was going to attend a school in Louisville before someone put a bug in his father's ear about Miami's industrial arts program—Hazel's path to the university was much clearer.

"My only choice," says Hazel, who was born and raised in West Alexandria, about 30 miles north of Oxford. "You're away from home, but you're close enough if you needed anything or wanted anything."

The Teufels reconnected with Miami in 2011 when James received an invitation to a football game. From there, discussions eventually led to the Teufels' gift.

"This gift is going to come in very, very handy down the road, far beyond what we can even dream of right now," James says.

The Teufels' estate gift is not the only way they are supporting Miami. The couple also belongs to the Red & White Club, which provides scholarship support to Miami's student-athletes, and James plays in the annual golf fundraiser held each summer, named for his former coach, Bill Mallory. Proceeds from the event go toward the Bill Mallory Scholarship Fund, recognizing Coach Mallory's impact on James' Miami experience.

"It's nice to play and give back," James says. "I had no idea what he could do for me, but he apparently had an answer, and it was..."

"...It was what you needed," Hazel says.

You Can Give Miami Students What They Need

To learn how you can follow in James and Hazel's footsteps and support Miami with a planned gift, or to receive more information about the Match the Promise Enduring Legacy Initiative, contact Miami's Office of Gift Planning at 513-529-1286 or GiftPlanning@MiamiOH.edu.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Miami University 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 Miami University, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 725 E. Chestnut Street, Oxford, OH 45056, 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 Miami 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 Miami 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 Miami 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 Miami where you agree to make a gift to Miami 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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