Good decisions
George Dixon, longtime trustee and former chair of the board, visited campus in 2005 to check in with his grandsons: Will Dixon ’06, Alex Dixon ’09, and Nate Dixon ’07 (left to right). While George was educated in business at the Wharton School and Harvard, he urged the younger Dixons to attend Carleton: “The liberal arts experience they are gaining will shape each of their lives significantly,” he says.
Dixon’s association with Carleton began in 1971, when he joined the Board of Trustees at the invitation of his friend Atherton Bean ’31. “It was one of the wiser decisions I’ve made in my life,” Dixon says. His 25 years on the board saw many changes at the College: divestment from companies adhering to apartheid, a building boom (one of the student townhouses is named in his honor), four presidencies, and increased diversity in the student body.
Dixon remains a champion of Carleton today, noting that the College is “egalitarian and of the Great Plains, which gives it a candor and lack of pretense that distinguishes it from all other institutions.”
A Fit Gift
As physical education professors at Carleton, Pat Lamb and Ele Hansen encouraged generations of students to become physically fit. Now retired, they have turned their attention to faculty and staff members, making a commitment to establish the Pat Lamb and Ele Hansen Fund for Personal Fitness and Wellness with a gift from their estate. The endowed fund supports Carleton’s Lifestyles program, which encourages adult participants to develop good exercise and nutritional habits.
Lamb and Hansen also have pledged $2,000 a year for three years to fund programs such as Carleton’s new 10K a Day walking program, launched in early 2006, and initially offering 50 walkers a pedometer to record their steps, a T-shirt, and a weekly visit with a trainer. Participation rose throughout the winter months, with more than 60 people enrolled by early March. Lamb and Hansen were given the first two pedometers, logging miles on the golf course and walking around their neighborhood. “It has been a great thing to be a part of,” Lamb says. “We hope to set a good example and to encourage others to support fitness at Carleton.”
Such support is essential, says Terry Rivers, then director of recreational sports and manager of the Recreation Center. “We have to constantly introduce new programs to keep people’s attention on exercise,” he says.
Lamb and Hansen, who split their time between Northfield and Green Valley, Arizona, frequently visit campus. “We’re impressed with the increased facilities for health and wellness at Carleton, and we saw possibilities for more programming,” Lamb says. “We liked the idea of the Lifestyles program, so we thought, ‘Let’s see what we can do to help.’ ”
Heywood Society Turns 10
The Joseph Lee Heywood Society honors people who have made a gift of future support to Carleton. The society celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005. It has 1,258 members and welcomes anyone who has made a planned gift of any size, including will or trust provisions, gifts of retirement assets, charitable remainder unitrusts, gift annuities, and insurance gifts. The only requirement is that you notify Carleton of your plans.
“Everyone can do two important things for Carleton,” says Mari Aylin, director of major and planned giving. “One, make a gift to the Alumni Annual Fund, and two, put Carleton in your will. I would love to see our alumni embrace making bequests to the College with enthusiasm.”
Between 1995 and 2005, the College benefited greatly from bequests, receiving more than $36 million from 310 realized bequests.
Another way to support Carleton is through a life-income gift, which enables you to provide enduring support while continuing to meet your current income needs. Judd Alexander ’49 established a charitable remainder unitrust through a significant financial gift in 1986. “It’s a good investment because it isn’t eaten away by inflation like most pensions,” Alexander says. “Carleton has an excellent record of managing these securities.” Carleton employs Kaspick & Company, a leading financial management firm, to manage its planned-gifts portfolio, including 406 current life-income gifts.
Heywood Society members enjoy an annual campus luncheon, receive a periodic Live from Carleton CD featuring audio clips of current campus events, and are recognized in College publications.
For information about supporting Carleton, contact: The Office of Develpment, 800-492-2275, or on the web at go.carleton.edu/giving
