Donna Harter

Married alumni plan two endowments to honor their alma mater

It all started with a Halloween party at the Eagles Nest back in 1987. Wendy Risher, a sociology major from New Jersey, dressed as one of the blind mice; Pat Filippone, a business administration major and sports enthusiast from Northern Virginia, went as Gene Simmons from the rock band Kiss. The two hit it off and continued their friendship through senior year, after graduation in 1988, and during their first professional jobs across state lines from each other.

Pat and Wendy married in 1992, followed their passions to explore individual career paths, and raised their daughter, Kelly. Today, that coast-to-coast journey has them remembering their Mary Washington experiences as they finalize plans to pay it forward.

“Mary Washington opened up my world,” says Wendy. “I came from a small school in a small town, and I didn’t even know what sociology or anthropology were until I came here.”

She enjoyed all her classes, working in the dining hall, and being able to play on the women’s field hockey team. “One of the plusses of going to a small liberal arts school is that you are a student before you’re an athlete,” says Wendy. “Overall, I had an outstanding college experience, and I wish everyone could do the same.”

Wendy put her sociology degree to work for the federal government and then in the field of education. She recently completed her 18th year as an elementary school librarian – 14 of those years at the same school in California.

Pat chose Mary Washington after seeing a sign for the James Monroe Museum. “I was always interested in history, especially presidential history, so that piqued my interest,” he says. “Mary Washington was a great size for me, and I really enjoyed the cultural education of living with people from different backgrounds while learning new things.”

Pat majored in business because he was good with numbers, but he credits three Mary Washington professors with having a major impact on his life and career: Patricia Lacey Metzger for accounting, Marshall Bowen for geography, and Otho Campbell for history.

“They all were passionate about the subjects they taught, and they all inspired me,” he says.

While Pat had varied interests in college, he found a way to combine them by working “off the field” on the business side of baseball. His first job in baseball was in Northern Virginia with the minor league team that now is the Fredericksburg Nationals. In 1998, he was recruited to go to California.

Today, he is the president of 7th Inning Stretch, which owns and operates three minor league teams: the Stockton Ports, in Stockton, California; the Everett AquaSox in Everett, Washington; and the Delmarva Shorebirds in Salisbury, Maryland.

“I enjoy going to the ball park, meeting people in person that I read about or watched on TV, and now helping young players get started,” says Pat. “If you can figure it out and achieve it, it’s truly fantastic to make a living in an area that aligns with your passions.”

Pat and Wendy remain connected to Mary Washington, attending reunions when possible and volunteering to advise or speak to students.

Recently they shared their intent to include provisions in their estate plans for two UMW endowments. One will provide resources and services for students at the Simpson Library; the other will support operations at the James Monroe Museum.

“We felt it was important to recognize how our college years and our experiences with libraries and museums contributed to our life and career success,” says Wendy.

Pat agrees, “I made lifelong friends at Mary Washington and have a lot of good memories. I think it’s important to give thanks to the institution that helped both of us get to where we are today.”

For more information about estate planning, contact Jan Clarke at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064.

 

– Article by Donna Harter

 

With the fifth generation of their family now attending Mary Washington, Heritage Society members Marceline “Marcy” Weatherly Morris ’50 and Elmer “Juney” Morris ’50 are among UMW’s most loyal and dedicated alumni.

Through the years they have made numerous contributions, established an endowed scholarship, and named the Morris Stage at UMW’s historic amphitheatre.

Recently, the couple made a gift to name the Weatherly Wing inside Seacobeck Hall. The naming of the auditorium pays tribute to Marcy and her late parents, William Rupert and Lavon Gardner Weatherly.

For information about naming opportunities, contact advance@umw.edu or call 540-654-2059.

Dear Alumni and Friends:

As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to reflect on how Mary Washington continues to fulfill its mission as a public liberal arts and sciences institution, educating citizens for the 21st century.

I’m proud to say that we brought in a strong first-year class, while improving our retention rate and raising our academic profile. As we move forward with recruiting high-performing students – many who are first-in-family to attend college – we’re focused on providing a safe and diverse environment for them to learn and grow. Our faculty members play a pivotal role in this effort, forming relationships with students and teaching them to think critically, work collaboratively, and engage with civility. When UMW students graduate, they are ready to understand and transcend the differences that often divide our society.

We appreciate your continued investments in UMW, supporting students through scholarships and initiatives like our Beyond the Classroom Endowment, which offers them access to high-impact learning experiences. Your gifts help provide a transformative education that prepares students for their careers while fostering a lifetime of learning.

Thank you for supporting public higher education and for remaining forever true to Mary Washington.

Take action now to save on taxes

The holiday season is the perfect time to think about charitable giving. You’ll feel great for helping others, and you’ll appreciate owing less taxes in 2023.

GIFTS OF CASH
Donate cash to Mary Washington and other charitable organizations before the end of the calendar year.
• Check for corporate matching gift programs available through your employer or your spouse’s
employer. Many are available even for retirees. If applicable, request a matching gift form from the
organization and send it to UMW with your gift.
• Satisfy your annual IRA required minimum distribution (RMD) by donating up to $100,000 this year. While you cannot take a deduction for the distribution, you’ll save by not paying taxes at your current rate. Be sure your administrator makes the distribution directly to Mary Washington.

CAPITAL GIFTS
The IRS defines a capital asset as almost anything you own. Examples include stocks, your home, land or other property, furniture, collections (stamps or coins), jewelry, and other precious metals. If the capital asset you wish to donate is something other than publicly traded stock, you may need to hire a qualified appraiser to provide an estimated value. There are several advantages to giving a capital asset to a qualified charity:
• You do not pay capital gains tax.
• The asset is no longer part of your estate; therefore it lowers taxes for your beneficiaries.
• You save the expenses of maintaining, insuring, or repairing the asset.
• You may receive an income tax deduction up to 30% of your adjusted gross income this year. If your deduction exceeds 30% of your adjusted gross income, you have up to five additional years to use the deduction.

ESTATE PLANNING
Now is the time to check your will and various account records to confirm beneficiary information. If you have included Mary Washington in your estate plans, please contact the Office of Gift Planning so we can honor your intentions.

NEXT STEPS
Visit giving.umw.edu/make-a-gift for information about cash gifts, IRA distributions, matching gifts, and direct stock transfers. For additional information and giving options, contact Jan Clarke at jclarke@umw.edu or 540-654-2064. As always, consult with your legal and tax professionals.