Working with Heinrich on Bentley programs is like old times for Director of Alumni Relations Gary Kelly, who spent 22 years in the Student Affairs division before assuming his current position in 2007.

“As a student, Kurt had a remarkable ability to see the big picture and was always willing to contribute his time and energy,” Kelly says. “It’s a pleasure to have him so involved as an alumnus. We’re lucky to have him.”

The feeling is clearly mutual. Most recently, Heinrich named Bentley University a beneficiary in his will.

“I had a great experience at Bentley, and I continue to get so much from the alumni community. It only seems right to give back to the place that gave me so much.” Kate Jackson

Lori Lindholm

Kurt Heinrich ’87

Exercise Your Will Power

Your will is a legally sound document that controls the disposition

of assets you have accumulated through a lifetime. But it is more

than just splitting your estate among your beneficiaries. Whether

simple or complex, your will can be a final message reflecting your

personal values, concern for loved ones, and intention to leave a

lasting legacy by which others may remember you.

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OBSERVER

How do I make a gift through a will?

A bequest is an instruction in your written will, stating how to

distribute some or all of your available estate. There are four

types of bequests: specific (gift of a particular asset); percentage

(a part of the value of the distributed estate); residual (the

remainder of the estate after paying out taxes, expenses, and

other bequests); and contingent (made to a second beneficiary if

the original beneficiary is deceased or does not accept the gift).

The bequest language chosen should fit what you want to

accomplish with the gift.

What are the advantages to charitable bequests?

Bequests have been an extremely popular way of providing

long-term support for charitable organizations (such as Bentley)

that are important in our lives. There are many reasons to make

charitable bequests: the opportunity to advance personal

values, the satisfaction of supporting a cause to benefit future

generations, and the generosity possible through wise financial

choices. Tax planning is also an important factor in this decision.

With some foresight, you can make a charitable bequest that

allows for realizing these and other objectives for your estate.

Interested in finding out about wills and bequests? To request a free e-brochure with the Office of Gift Planning, please call Amy Chick ’04 MSPFP at 781.891.2556 or 800.523.6853, or e-mail giftplanning@bentley.edu.