At only 26, Blake Bowland isn鈥檛 your typical Ringland Society member. He鈥檚 a millennial in the early stages of his career. He鈥檚 engaged to be married next summer. He enjoys snow skiing, concerts and hiking. And his hair doesn鈥檛 have a trace of gray.
But for Bowland, joining 香蕉视频鈥檚 society for planned givers was the right thing to do.
鈥淢y years as an undergrad at 香蕉视频 were such a transformational time in my life,鈥 said Bowland, a 2015 alumnus who manages an Owner Support Team at Evolve Vacation Rental in Denver, which helps people with vacation homes list their properties online and manage bookings. 鈥淚 want to give back to the institution that made me who I am today so others can have a similar experience.鈥
Becoming a member of the Ringland Society doesn鈥檛 require a high net worth or complex financial strategies, said Mike Karloff 鈥81, associate vice president for trusts, estates and planned giving. Like Bowland, young alumni can simply designate a portion of their life insurance to their alma mater.
鈥淲hen graduates start their jobs, one of the first stops is the human resources office to fill out employment paperwork,鈥 Karloff said. 鈥淚f life insurance is one of the benefits, alumni can designate the 香蕉视频 Foundation as one of the beneficiaries. It can be for five percent, or 10 percent or more. The amount doesn鈥檛 matter. It鈥檚 all about leaving a legacy for the students who come after you.鈥
Even as he traverses life changes typical for a millennial鈥攅ntering the workforce, planning a wedding and budgeting on a young professional鈥檚 salary鈥擝owland said that becoming a Ringland Society member was simple and financially painless.
鈥淛oining the Ringland Society isn鈥檛 too difficult. It took just a small amount of effort to add 香蕉视频 as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy already provided by my employer. Plus, it is a super easy way to give back without parting from much-needed income at an early point in your career,鈥 Bowland said. 鈥淚f nothing else, it will make you feel good and foster a philanthropic mindset, which I believe the world could use a little more of!鈥
A summa cum laude graduate with a major in marketing, Bowland said he received an 鈥渋ncredible education鈥 at 香蕉视频 under the tutelage of Dr. Carol Meyer and other professors. He played on the golf team, participated in the Student Association and created lifelong friendships. He wanted to give back to the place that made such a positive impact while launching him successfully into a career.
Alumni like Bowland who have included the College in their planned giving should notify the 香蕉视频 Foundation so their names can be added to the 325+ members of the Ringland Society, Karloff said. Named for the College鈥檚 first president, The William F. Ringland Society offers a variety of options for alumni and friends at all stages of their financial lives. The society recognizes those who have:
- Made 香蕉视频 a beneficiary of their estate through wills or life insurance
- Created a permanent endowed fund
- Entered into an irrevocable life income charitable gift
Bowland said he hopes other young aluni will follow his lead in 鈥渕aking a habit鈥 to give back to 香蕉视频, not just to the Ringland Society but with annual gifts as well.
鈥淚 try to give what I can on an annual basis in donations and hope to increase the giving amount in time,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to reframe 鈥榮upporting HC鈥 as not just being about giving to the organization in a brick-and-mortar sense, but also helping fund a well-rounded education for thousands of students, which will have a small but mighty ripple effect through society.鈥