Gift Planning

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  3. Lynda Kerzic Given

Lynda Kerzic Given '77 Establishes Dr. Alan Engel Advisor Fund

Miami Alumna Among Hundreds Impacted by Longtime Professor

Lynda Kerzic Given

Lynda Kerzic Given '77 (top, left) shares the news of her gift with Dr. Alan Engel (top, right) and his family on Zoom call, reconnecting 43 years after her graduation.

Dr. Alan Engel was headed to the Art Institute of Chicago before an advisor in high school pushed him to consider political science.

It was there that he learned the important role that advisors play in students' lives, and he went on to impact hundreds of students as an advisor and professor of political science at Miami University.

One of those students, Lynda Kerzic Given '77, recently found a way to honor Dr. Engel by creating a fund in his honor, supporting the advisor position within the Sue J. Henry Center for Pre-Law Education in the College of Arts and Science.

"When I started discussing this gift with Miami, we got to the end of all the details, and I realized that we needed a name," Lynda says. "I did not have to think twice; I wanted to name it after Dr. Engel."

Lynda has chosen to make a gift this year to endow the fund so that immediate support for the Pre-Law Program will be available. Additionally, she has chosen to provide future support to grow the endowment through a bequest.

Lynda and Dr. Engel had not seen each other since her graduation from Miami 43 years earlier, but the two reconnected through a Zoom call where she shared the news of her gift with Dr. Engel, his wife, Sondra Engel M. Ed. '72, and their two sons, Reed Engel '83, MA '85, MA '86, and Drew Engel '84.

"I would like to say to Lynda," Dr. Engel says, "thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for what you have done, not only to honor me, but more importantly to provide support and provide real assistance to an area of academia that ordinarily goes unsung, but which is, nonetheless, vitally important."

Lynda is equally grateful for Dr. Engel's influence on her life and career. She knew she wanted to attend law school since she was 6 years old, and Dr. Engel's guidance helped her envision that path.

"He was my pre-law advisor, that was one of his assigned roles at Miami, and as a junior and a senior, I definitely took him up on the opportunity to talk to him about going to law school," she says.

"You absolutely set me on fire with the classes you taught," Lynda said to Dr. Engel. "Thank you for everything you did for me."

Lynda's gift will support exceptional advisors in the Sue J. Henry Center for Pre-Law Education whose role is supporting students pursuing studies and careers in the field of law.

"Making this gift and reconnecting with Dr. Engel has been an absolutely wonderful opportunity," Lynda says. "It brings back so many memories, and it helps me recall not just the classes that we had together, but how that established a solid foundation for my future career. Dr. Engel was the inspiration for it all."

To learn more about how you can honor a mentor or loved one with a gift from your estate, please 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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