Lee and Victor Leavengood
 Lee and Victor Leavengood are among the founding donors to the College of The Arts. Their imaginative approach to philanthropy is just one example of how thoughtful gift planning plays an integral part in the long-term prosperity of the College and the University. By establishing a charitable gift annuity, they have ensured that their generosity will support the College of The Arts for a long time to come. They have dedicated this gift to the College’s building fund, which includes plans for an expansion to the Contemporary Arts Museum.
“It’s important that people know how best to maximize the impact of their philanthropy,” explains Victor, who is a retired GTE/Verizon executive. “We decided to use an annuity as a vehicle for giving in order to take advantage of the State’s matching gift program,” adds Lee, who is both a USF alumna and an employee. This program often matches donor gifts dollar-for-dollar. In addition, the annuity the Leavengoods created will provide them with income for life. For their generosity, the Leavengoods were inducted in the USF Legacy Society, one of the most prestigious philanthropic recognition organizations at the University.
Planned gifts can also include life deferred gifts, bequests, insurance policies, income-producing trusts, estate plans, even retirement plan benefits.
>> For more information on planned giving, please click here.
Gretchen Ward Warren
 Gretchen Warren is a professor in the College of The Arts who, together with her family, created a special memorial scholarship in the Dance program. Here, she shares her story.
“A few years ago, out of the blue, an elderly relative called me. ‘Gretchen,’ she said, ‘I’d like to do something for your Dance department over there at USF, and I need to attend to it before I become any more forgetful.’ Quite frankly, I was astonished, and even more so when, within the year, she had set up a considerable fund to benefit our students. When I called to thank her, she said, ‘Well, you know, I’m not just doing this because I love you and your father, but even more so because I’ve always wanted to give something back to dance.’”
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