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Why I Give: Q&A With Stacy DeLano ’71

Stacy DeLano

Stacy DeLano

Q: What is your fondest memory of the College?
A. My lifelong relationship with my major professor, Dr. David Anthony. Although I never really used my Asian studies/political science major professionally, I’ve always had a passion for Asian culture: literature, art, philosophy, cuisine. “Uncle Dave” as we called him, was a larger-than-life academic with a gift of humor and entertainment that made his classes—and interactions with him post-College—more than memorable.

His death in 2000 sparked a self-reassessment of my life when I realized I had been too wrapped up in a stressful and demanding career to focus on family and friends who really mattered to me. I scheduled a visit to David’s widow, Laura—who would become a very close friend until her own death—coupled with some informational interviews that she arranged to explore the possibility of returning to my alma mater to work.

Thus, within a year of those interviews, I was hired as a major gifts officer and made the big switch from corporate life in Washington, D.C., to a nine-year career raising funds for the College.

Q: Why did you choose to support the College with a planned gift?
A. I learned during my years working at the College about the importance of regular, annual giving combined with periodic larger gifts to commemorate reunions or to support capital campaigns. The third leg of giving is an “ultimate gift” that adds to or establishes your legacy.

While working at the College from 2001–2009, I befriended and became “Auntie Stacy” to scores of students, most of whom were internationals, and with some of whom I’ve remained friends to this day. These friendships opened up a whole new world to me and helped to make my life at Randolph a much richer experience, full of joy and purpose.

One of the students I befriended was the late Kobra Ahmadi ’10, a brilliant young refugee from Afghanistan. Her passion for learning, ambition to travel and make a difference, and her determination to be an example to others following in her footsteps was remarkable to me. That she died so young was shattering to the College community, but through her I stayed in touch with her young husband, Jawed Nader, and Susan Lemly Sardina ’70, who had been instrumental getting Kobra to Randolph.

When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August 2021, Kobra and her husband’s families were able to escape, and I connected with and became close to the two daughters of her brother, Somaya and Parwin.

Both Somaya’s and Parwin’s dream was to pick up where they left off at university in Kabul. Their ultimate dream was to attend Aunt Kobra’s alma mater. With that inspiration and goal in mind, Susan Lemly Sardina ’70, Susan Braselton Fant ’84, and I teamed up to create a scholarship for displaced and refugee students who could not ordinarily afford the expense of a private liberal arts college.

We managed to raise enough funds to send Parwin to Randolph, where she is flourishing as a first-year student, for one year. The Susans and I will continue to fundraise to get Parwin through to graduation. Then we hope to recruit more qualified students.

It dawned on me in the process of creating this fund that I would be able to endow it through my estate. Since the College was already in my will, it was relatively easy to redirect my intentions to the scholarship in Kobra’s memory. And hopefully it will secure funds to future students for years to come, thus creating my “ultimate gift.”

Q: Do you have any advice for new graduates?
A. Give back. Pay it forward. Someone helped you get through your years at Randolph. From your very first years out, you can make an annual donation that says “Thanks!” and helps another student (or professor, or department, or maintenance of our beautiful campus) live the Vita Abundantior.

My second piece of advice would be to stay in touch. Your college experience will always be one of the most important influences that shapes your life. Being connected to a small institution like Randolph is more than special. Staying in touch with classmates, professors, and—if you can—coming back to celebrate that connection during reunions is infinitely rewarding. What I’ve discovered through the years is that I can easily make friends of grads from other years and professors I didn’t know when I was in college, when I was working for RC, and even now! We have so much in common.

To learn how you can pair your legacy with what you are passionate about, contact The Planned Giving Office at 434-485-8050 or plannedgiving@randolphcollege.edu today. We would be honored to assist you.

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

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A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Randolph College 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

 Bequest Language

"I give, devise, and bequeath to the Trustees of Randolph College (founded as Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1891), a corporation located in Lynchburg, Virginia (the College), the sum of $_____ dollars [or property, securities, etc.], to be used for [describe the purpose in as broad and simple terms as possible], or in the event that such use shall in the judgment of the Board of Trustees of the College become impracticable, said trustees may use the bequest for other purposes as nearly akin to the original purpose as they judge will help advance the aims of the College."

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 the College 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 the College 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 the College 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 the College where you agree to make a gift to the College 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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