Planned Giving Stories
High School Sweethearts Leave a Legacy Through Philanthropy
Oct. 15, 2025
Although they were born in the same month at the same hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, James C. “Jim” Schrum, ’74, and his wife, Cynthia J. “Cindi” Schrum, didn’t meet until they were both students at Austintown Fitch High School. They started dating in the late 1960s and have been…
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Making a Difference for Future Generations
Oct. 15, 2025
Planned gifts, and bequests in particular, are a vital form of philanthropy at Kent State. These gifts make an important impact on our students and community, and they can be made in any amount, making them a great option for anyone interested in giving back.
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Legacies Change Lives: Lauren Bischof
Oct. 15, 2025
Lauren Bischof is a senior journalism major from Medina, Ohio, graduating in spring 2026. She recently participated in the rigorous Washington Program in National Issues in Washington, D.C., completing an internship at WJLA-TV in Arlington, Virginia. For more than 50 years, this…
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Legacies Change Lives: Marissa Baker
May 9, 2025
The compassion, empathy and care nurses showed Marissa Baker when her mother suddenly passed led her to pursue a career in nursing.“The nurses helped me immensely during the hardest time in my life, and I will never forget the way they cared for me,” Marissa said. “I knew I…
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Opening Doors for Future Nurses
April 11, 2025
When Phillip R. Ridgley thought back on his career and considered how he could help the next generation of medical professionals, he decided he wanted to open doors for Kent State students pursuing a career in nursing. He decided to start an endowment so that he could continue…
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Helping Others Realize Their Potential
April 11, 2025
When Terrence J. “Chip” Bahn, ’75, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.D., was a high school senior he wanted to attend Kent State University after graduation, but he wasn’t ready and his counselor encouraged him to start at the local community college before moving on to Kent State. This experience…
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Planned Gift Endows Executive Director Position at Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center
Nov. 15, 2023
The Wick family has a long history of philanthropy at Kent State University that began in 1984 when brothers Bob and Walt Wick first established scholarships to support undergraduate poets at the university. This most recent gift of $1 million brings the family’s total…
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