Heidelberg Contributions

By Bev Wightman ’62

Heidelberg College played a very important role in my life. I graduated in 1962 with a degree in economics and business administration and a teaching degree in business education. As a student, I engaged in many activities and had a solid education with excellent professors.

I felt well prepared for teaching high school and then obtaining a master’s degree in marketing, which helped me secure a position in marketing and finance in a textbook publishing company. I learned leadership skills, organizational skills and social skills, which have aided me in my professional employment and my volunteer activities.

Attending chapel and convocation each week, meeting with professors in fireside chats and discussions in small classes helped me develop my own Christian faith and values.

I contributed to Heidelberg regularly because of its positive impact on my life, but when I turned 70½, it was time to begin drawing funds from my IRA. I chose to include Heidelberg in my required minimum distribution (RMD) because it is also a wise business decision to give RMDs to charitable organizations. The amount of the RMD is totally exempt from federal income taxes.

Note: The current age to begin withdrawing RMDs is now 72. Especially with today’s tax laws, it is more tax efficient to use the RMD than to itemize contributions since the 2021 standard deduction for a married couple 65 or older is $27,800.

Contact Doug Kellar at 419-448-2888 or dkellar@heidelberg.edu to learn how you can make a tax-wise gift to Heidelberg that changes lives.