Lipscomb University

Legacy Society Advancing Fellows

Five couples were honored as Legacy Society Advancing Fellows at the Lipscomb University Associates Gala, held Nov. 3 at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

“Advancing Fellows” are those who have achieved membership in the Legacy Society or have achieved a new level of membership in the previous 12 months, said G. David England, associate vice president for advancement.

Advancing fellows and their designations: John and Linda (’63) Johnston, Nashville, Founders’ Fellow; Burt (’79) and Lisa (’80) Nowers, Brentwood, Tenn., and David and Debbie Scobey, Alpharetta, Ga., University Fellow; Jerry (’75) and Sharlet (’73) Cover, Brentwood, Tenn., and Greg (’74) and Linda (’75) Hardeman, Nashville, College Fellow.

Several additional donors were honored as Advancing Fellows but could not attend the Gala, including Marty (’77) and Jane (’76) Kittrell, Franklin, Tenn., Founders’ Fellow; Bruce (’63) and Elaine (’64) Sullivan, Nashville, University Fellow; Lewis and Betty Carter, Donalsonville, Ga., Jim (’63) and Jane Harwell, Nashville, Bill and Susan (’63) Lassiter, Nashville, Wayne and Kathryn (’60) Lewis, Nashville, Sam and Peggy Moore, Nashville, Ken (’65) and Joyce (’72) Shumard, Atlanta, and Mike and Diane Smith, Old Hickory, Tenn., College Fellow.

Linda Johnston, David Scobey, Jerry Cover, Greg Hardeman, Marty Kittrell, Lewis Carter and Ken Shumard are members of the Lipscomb board of trustees. Scobey was elected chairman of the board in the trustees’ meeting on Nov. 5, succeeding Hilton Dean.

The Legacy Society honors those who have contributed $100,000 or more to the University or David Lipscomb Campus School on a cumulative basis. Society members are honored at seven levels: Legacy Fellow, $10 million; Trustees’ Fellow, $5 million; President’s Fellow, $2.5 million, Chancellor’s Fellow, $1 million; Founders’ Fellow, $500,000; University Fellow, $250,000; College Fellow, $100,000.

The Lipscomb University Associates Gala is an annual, invitation-only, formal event held in honor of members of three of the university’s giving societies: the Legacy Society, Lipscomb Associates, and A.M. Burton Society. Associates support the university or campus school on an annual, renewable basis with gifts of $1,000 or more. The Burton Society honors individuals who support Lipscomb through one or more planned gift arrangements, such as documented bequests, trusts, gift annuities, named endowments of $25,000 or more, and other methods.

This year’s guest speaker was Capt. Mark Kelly, U.S. astronaut and husband of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The Gala is produced by Lipscomb’s Office of Stewardship and Donor Relations.

 

Rodes & Patricia Hart

A dedicated philanthropist gets a little assistance in learning the piano, and decides to give back.

When Nashville businessman Rodes Hart decided to purchase a piano for his office, the first person to point him toward Lipscomb University was longtime friend and Lipscomb board of trustees member Robbie Davis. She suggested that he contact Professor Jerome Reed for assistance -- advice that was endorsed by a number of others in the music community.

Hart contacted Reed, an internationally acclaimed concert pianist and 27-year member of the Lipscomb music faculty, who was experienced at selecting the instruments for the university and other venues. Together they chose a Steinway Model B grand piano.

But the relationship did not end there. Hart, a longtime fan of music and the arts, was also looking for a piano instructor. He had taken lessons as a young child, but work had consumed most of his adult years. At 78, he was anxious to take up for lost time.

Reed agreed to teach him for the summer and see how it progressed. During the course of that summer, they developed a close friendship. “Rodes proved to be one of the most diligent and dedicated students I have ever taught,” Reed said. “I enjoyed seeing his progress so much that it became a pleasure to watch how quickly he was improving.”

When September arrived, Reed agreed to continue teaching his new student, and Hart expressed his appreciation to Reed by giving $1 million to Lipscomb to endow the Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair in Piano. Reed became the first holder of this chair. Hart, who admits he didn’t know much about Lipscomb University until he met Reed, wanted to do something to support piano teaching specifically because of what Reed had done for him.

“I am so amazed by Jerry’s ability and skill. I wanted to do something significant for him and for the department,” Hart said. The endowed chair provides many opportunities for Lipscomb’s music faculty and for its students.

Hart is the former owner of Franklin Industries, Inc. He and his wife have contributed to Lipscomb’s Steinway Initiative and have endowed chairs in education and medicine at other universities. They are benefactors of numerous arts and educational organizations in Nashville as well.

Ruth Frey & Evalena Tobaben

Two sisters find a way to both give and receive.

Sisters Ruth Frey and Evalena Tobaben may seem like unlikely college donors. They never attended college and, in fact, had only a passing association with Lipscomb University through their church in Louisville. That all changed in 1994, when Frey attended her first Lipscomb Summer Hostel, a week-long combination of classes and field trips for individuals who want to learn in a classroom setting again. About that same time, she set up the first of several gift annuities through the university.

A gift annuity allows a donor to contribute a sum of money to a charity and receive an annual income as long as he or she lives. The donor is also entitled to an income tax deduction, and part of the annual income is tax -free because it is considered return of principal. When the donor dies, the original gift goes completely to the charity. Frey’s gift annuity was the beginning of a relationship with the university that would last for many years.

It wasn’t long before Frey encouraged her sister to join her at Lipscomb’s Summer Hostel. They continued to attend every summer until 2010, and Tobaben also set up gift annuities through Lipscomb. Today, the sisters say they are investing in Lipscomb—rather than giving—because they receive an income through the charitable gift annuities. They believe strongly that Lipscomb upholds belief in integrity, honesty, and other moral values that they hold dearly.

This year Frey and Tobaben attended the 25th anniversary for the hostel program. “I have nothing but good memories of all the hostels, and now I can add this event to my good memories,” Frey said. The sisters have always considered the hostel experience more than an opportunity to attend classes. They also think about the students who may be benefiting from their investments. And they feel proud to be a part of what Lipscomb is doing: investing in young people and creating many more memorable experiences.

Friends

As we continue to involve ourselves in the Nashville community, we’ve made some wonderful friends along the way: neighbors, fellow educators, church members, business owners—remarkable people so impressed by a Lipscomb education that they want to help us provide it.