Proof # 3 of 3

Jan 14, 2015Date:

Trinity Valley SchoolClient/Organization:

Souvatrat, GinaYour Designer:

Job #: 19640

Proof Sheet

Customer Quantity Mailhouse Quantity

1,000Single Sheet Newsletter 2-Color

1,000Custom Reply Card

1,000Business Reply Envelope

1,000Mailing Envelope

50Response Brochure

Wednesday, January 14, 20152:13:55 PM Page 1 of 1

Investing in theFUTURE

Finding Friendship and Support in Unexpected Places

When walking the halls of TVS, students could always feel Pista’s presence. From pinching my cheeks (hard!) to an occasional (in my case, more than occasional) admonishment, to many a trip to the “Black Hole of Calcutta,” I always knew Pista was there looking over me and guiding me. His involvement in my life then and later helped me in ways that I could never have contemplated as a student at TVS. I graduated in 1981 and did what most did: went off to school, started a career, found the love of my life and got married. TVS and Pista were always in the back of my mind. Yes, I made it a point to come back for the occasional homecoming and kept in touch with TVS classmates and friends, but life went forward.

Rekindl ing a Fr iendship

In the early 1990s, I wanted to get involved with the school again. That is when, as an adult, I got to know Pista on a different level. I worked with him as a member of the Board of Trustees and as the alumni president. Through long hours of meetings, sometimes grueling work and the occasional conflict, he became more than a mentor and a teacher; Pista became a friend. My wife, Ronda, and I joined the Stephen Seleny Society in 1999. At the time, our daughter, Elizabeth, was 2, and we were pregnant with our son. The future looked bright, and after serving in various

Winter 2015

Trinity Valley has always held a special place in my heart. It is a special place with a sense of community and involvement. No one displayed his caring for the TVS community like Stephen “Pista” Seleny.

We would love to count

you as a member of the Stephen

Seleny Society. Let us know if we

can provide you with information

about how you can join this group

of visionaries who are committed

to the future of TVS. Contact

Margaret Kramer today at

kramerm@trinityvalleyschool.org

or 817.321.0100 with any questions

you have about ways to support

our future.

The Stucker Family, from left, El izabeth, Max, Ronda and Walter

By Walter Stucker, Class of 1981

Continued on back

Margaret Kramer, Director of Advancement7500 Dutch Branch RoadFort Worth, TX 76132817.321.0100 | kramerm@trinityvalleyschool.orgwww.trinityvalleyschool.org

© The Stelter Company | The information in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.

3 Steps to Get You StartedLearn more about how you can achieve a lasting legacy through an endowment gift in our helpful brochure

The Best Present for Anyone on Your List. Just complete and return the enclosed survey to receive your copy.

capacities at Trinity Valley and seeing it through adult eyes, I felt more certain than ever that I wanted to leave a legacy to this wonderful school. My friendship with Pista made this decision a no-brainer. The year we joined, I could have never imagined how Pista’s friendship would become so crucial in the future.

An Unexpected Detour

In 2005, in a very bizarre and extraordinary way, Pista’s and my lives came together again. I had begun TVS in 1971 in the third grade. Pista’s daughter, Monica (Moni), was in my class that year. She had been diagnosed with cancer the previous year and passed away during our third-grade year. In 2005, my daughter, Elizabeth, was a bubbling, vivacious second-grader at TVS. In October of that year, our family was given the news that Elizabeth had been diagnosed with a relatively rare and often fatal form of cancer called neuroblastoma. She was diagnosed at the same age as Moni had been, more than 30 years apart. Pista heard about Elizabeth and was there immediately, offering support and guidance. He and his wife, Kato, visited with Ronda and me. They talked to us about their experiences through Moni’s illness, what they did and

what they wished they had done. They taught us how to handle each other and family during the illness as well as how to be a family again after a child dies. They taught us how to begin the healing process as well as how to go on with life. Elizabeth has been in remission for more than seven years and is a junior at TVS. On her desk at home is an edelweiss flower, a gift from Pista at her ninth birthday party. The symbolic meaning of an edelweiss flower is daring, courage and noble purity. When Pista gave Elizabeth this gift, we all believed that it was probably going to be her last birthday. Pista wanted her to know how brave he thought she was after watching her through this ordeal.

Looking Ahead

Pista and Kato’s guidance and friendship helped immensely during Elizabeth’s illness. It showed us again the involvement and dedication to community of this remarkable man. I could not have known when I started third grade that this man would have such a profound impact on my life. As a member of the Stephen Seleny Society, I know that the school will continue to have an impact on future generations of students whose lives will be touched in countless ways by their TVS connections.

Continued from front

Finding Friendship and Support in Unexpected PlacesBy Walter Stucker, Class of 1981

Spend some time exploring our mission and how you can help at www.trinityvalleyschool.org.

Reach out with any questions or concerns you might have. You can reach Margaret Kramer

at kramerm@trinityvalleyschool.org or 817.321.0100.

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I would like to receive a copy of the FREE guide The Best Present for Anyone on Your List.

I would like more information on how to support Trinity Valley School after my lifetime. I have included a gift to TVS in my will or other estate plans. I would consider including a gift to TVS in my will or other estate plans.

Please complete and return in the enclosed envelope today.

Name (Please print)

Address

City, State ZIP

Telephone

Email

Yes

We respect your privacy! Information collected here will be kept strictly confidential. It will not be sold, rented, loaned or otherwise disclosed, and it will not be used in ways to which you have not consented.

30-SECOND SURVEY

Not atthis time

Margaret Kramer, Director of Advancement

7500 Dutch Branch Road

Fort Worth, TX 76132

817.321.0100 | kramerm@trinityvalleyschool.org

www.trinityvalleyschool.org

The Best Present for

Anyone on Your List

E printed on recycled paperThe information in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice,

please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical

purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include

federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.

7

INB25-F

You can establish an endowment now with an outright

gift and add to it each year, or you can arrange future

funding with a bequest or life income plan.

Fund Your Endowment Now Cash. The simplest way to make your gift is to

write a check. By doing this you may be entitled

to an income tax deduction.

Appreciated assets. If you make an outright

gift of an appre ciated asset that you’ve owned longer

than one year, you may be entitled to an income

tax deduction for the full fair market value of the

asset, while eliminating the capital gains tax on the

asset’s appreciation.

Fund Your Endowment in the FutureRetirement plan assets. Because retirement plan

assets may be taxed heavily after your death, consider

naming us as the beneficiary of the plan. Note: The tax

rules regarding retirement plans can be complex, so

consult your tax advisor before making this type of gift.

Life income gifts. Some gift arrangements, such as

a charitable gift annuity and a charitable remainder trust,

will pay income to you and/or another beneficiary typically

for life. Thereafter, the assets can be distributed to your

endowed fund.

Bequests. You may decide that the best way to

make a lasting difference is to remember us in your

will or living trust. Your bequest can be a specific amount or

a percentage of your residuary estate.

Getting StartedWe will be pleased to help you create an endowment

and achieve timeless recognition for yourself or a loved

one. Just arrange a meeting with our representative—

without obligation.

Don’t Forget to Include

Safety Language!

Nationwide, millions of dollars directed to

permanent endowments are sitting idle in bank

accounts. Why? Because the funds can’t be

used for their original purpose, which has now

become obsolete. This is why we encourage

you to include a statement that allows our

board to redistribute these funds to another

area if your original intent becomes obsolete.

We can provide you and your attorney with the

appropriate language.

5Ways to Make Your Gift

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BE ALTERED

Many of us are lucky to have a role model we admire—a parent who has supported you through life’s ups and downs, a friend who shares your interests and values and is there when you need a hand. Or maybe you have children who inspire you and challenge you to look to the future. During life’s important moments—birthdays, anniversaries, graduations—special people deserve equally special gifts. Endowments and memorials are unique gifts that last a lifetime and far beyond.

Endowment Fund BasicsYou can fund an endowment using cash, securities or other assets. You establish and fund the endowment and each year a small portion of that fund is used. The balance is invested for the future and the fund is intended to last in perpetuity.

Specifying Your Gift’s PurposeWhen you establish an endowment, the gift can be used for a specific purpose or to meet general needs.

INB25-F © The Stelter Company

From our standpoint, an unrestricted gift is often the most beneficial because we can apply the funds to our most urgent needs. However, we also realize that you might want to use your gift for a particular activity. If your expressed purpose is feasible and the fund is adequate, we can fulfill your intent. We urge you to consult us in advance to discuss your specific goals. Along those same lines, upon request, we can identify some of our most critical needs for your consideration. We are happy to work with you to determine the ideal goal and identify the resources needed to reach that goal.

Where the Name AppearsYour gift can be recognized in several ways. For instance, your name or the name of your loved one might be printed in a report or inscribed on a plaque. For a sizable gift, the honored name might be placed on a room, a wing or even a building. We will determine the appropriate form of recognition based on your wishes, our circumstances and the purpose of the gift.

When you want a gift to reflect the admiration and respect you have for the recipient, material objects just don’t measure up. Creating a named endowment for your loved one is the perfect way to honor the person far into the future.

Endowments A Meaningful Gift for the Person Who Has Everything

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It’s a common myth that you have to be extremely

wealthy to leave a generous gift.

The truth is even those of more modest means can create

memorial gifts to honor important people in their lives.

For example:

■ An Alabama businessman founded a Reading

Is Fundamental chapter named after his late wife.

■ An Iowa woman created a veterinary scholarship in

You Don’t Have to Be an Andrew Carnegie or a Henry Ford

honor of the two veterinarians who lovingly cared for

her cats for many years.

■ A New York couple funded a city park in

remembrance of their son, who died at age 21.

■ Members of an Alabama YMCA camp constructed a

chapel on the camp grounds in memory of four young

counselors who were killed in a car-train collision.

Please contact us to discuss ways that you can honor

someone special through a gift to us.

Turn Your Annual Gift Into Lasting Support

How can you make your annual gift to us last forever? Multiply the amount of your annual gift by 25. Assume it earns 4 percent each year, and we spend that amount yearly. By making an endowment gift of this size from your estate, you will ensure that your support continues long after you’re gone.

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TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL7500 DUTCH BRANCH RDFORT WORTH TX 76132-4110

Place Stamp Here

TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL7500 Dutch Branch RoadFort Worth, Texas 76132

CHARACTER

INTEGRITY

LEADERSHIP

RESPECT

WISDOM