The
Dilemma
When a family
member dies, it can be difficult to decide the best way to show
love, honor and respect for that person, and to determine how
friends may best honor the deceased one.
When a friend dies,
knowing what to say to the family or how to best demonstrate the
extent of the love and respect felt for the deceased can be
difficult.
When I die, how
would I like my family and friends to honor me? Do I want
flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow? What can be done
at my death that would demonstrate what was important to me
during my life?
The
Solution
There are many
appropriate expressions of sympathy and honor for a loved one.
Besides traditional floral tributes which last only a few days,
a gift to a charity such as Emmanuel School of Religion can be a
tribute that demonstrates the values of the deceased.
Let’s
Be Specific
A beloved family
member or a longtime friend has died, and you know they had an
appreciation for the work of Emmanuel School of Religion. Giving
a gift to Emmanuel School of Religion in memory of that person
is a wonderful way to preserve his or her memory while making a
tribute that will last longer than flowers and have a more
far-reaching effect.
An undesignated
memorial gift to Emmanuel will be directed to the school’s
general fund to be used where it is needed the most. Or, the
deceased’s family may ask that gifts be directed toward
specific projects such as the establishment of a scholarship or
the purchase of library books.
Perhaps you may
consider making a request that at your own death gifts be sent
to Emmanuel in your name in lieu of flowers. This will allow
your interest and support of the Seminary to continue in your
name.
A
Service to You
Emmanuel School of
Religion acknowledges all memorial gifts with a nicely designed
card to the deceased person’s family without divulging the
amount of the gift. The donor then receives a receipt of the
gift for his or her records. In addition, the memorial gift will
be listed in Emmanuel’s annual contributor report which is
shared with all the school’s donors.
Some
Questions You May Have
Where
should memorial gifts be sent?
Memorial gifts may
be sent directly to Emmanuel School of Religion and designated
in the deceased person’s memory. They may also be sent to your
local church with a request to forward the gift on to Emmanuel
in memory of the loved one.
How
much is an appropriate memorial gift?
Many people send a
gift that would equal what they would spend on flowers at a
funeral, between $25–$50. Others, knowing that the gift will
not only be a tribute to the deceased but also do a good work at
Emmanuel, contribute larger amounts.
What
does Emmanuel do with memorial gifts?
Sometimes the
family of the deceased requests that memorial gifts be used at
Emmanuel for a specific project such as scholarships, library
books, or other interests. Others use the occasion of giving
memorial gifts to initiate an endowed scholarship in the name
and memory of the one who has died, thus creating a permanent
tribute in memory of the loved one. If the family has not
requested a specific project to address with the memorial gifts,
then the funds are placed in the general fund and used for the
daily operations of the School
How
are the gifts acknowledged?
Emmanuel
acknowledges all gifts given in memory by sending a special card
to the family of the deceased. The card indicates that Emmanuel
has received a memorial gift and lists the name of the donor.
The amount of the gift is not divulged. A receipt for the amount
given is sent to the donor. The School will be glad to inform
the family of the deceased of the collective amount that has
been received in memory of their loved one.
If
you have questions about giving a gift in memory or in honor
of a loved one, please contact
Dan
R. Lawson, Executive Director of Development
Emmanuel School of Religion
One Walker Drive
Johnson City TN 37601
(423) 461-1530
Email: lawsond@esr.edu
The
purpose of this site is to provide information of a general
nature. Neither Emmanuel School of Religion nor any of its
associates are engaged in giving legal or tax advice.
Individuals should seek the advice of their attorneys and tax
advisors for specific tax implications and laws governing
estate planning and charitable gifts.
