Legacy Challenge Inspires Catholic Scientist to Maximize His Impact
Christendom College is an institution where faith and reason thrive. A Christendom education is one that is "grounded in natural and revealed truth," as the college's mission statement asserts.
Gift Plan: Endowment
Christendom College is an institution where faith and reason thrive. A Christendom education is one that is "grounded in natural and revealed truth," as the college's mission statement asserts. As an institution that takes zero federal funding, Christendom's faithful Catholic education is only made possible through the support of generous benefactors. One such benefactor, Dr. Ray Henkel, is helping to expand the college's new natural science program through the college's bold Legacy Challenge.
The Legacy Challenge magnifies the impact of estate gifts by matching 10% of the value of the future gift with an immediate gift to Christendom student financial aid. Ray has included Christendom in his estate to support the science program while, through the Legacy Challenge, enabling five additional students to attend Christendom College today.
Originally from New York City, Ray has had a lifelong fascination with God's creation. He was introduced to physics in high school, and, in college, he would major in physics. Ray would go on eventually to earn a PhD in physics. In his professional career, Ray worked as a geophysicist for various oil companies for 25 years. Throughout his career and into retirement, Ray has maintained an interest in the sciences, especially in physics and geology. An avid outdoorsman and hunter, Ray now lives in Colorado.
Ray, a lifelong scientist and faithful Catholic, wanted to support a college that was purely Catholic. Seeing the secularization of higher education in recent decades, Ray determined to find a college that "really believes in religious education." Ray found out about Christendom when trying to find a college that preserves religious values while still providing an excellent education. Christendom's zero federal funding policy made it stand out from other colleges. When asked about what makes Christendom unique, Ray says: "Christendom really popped out to me because the college takes no money from the government." When Ray found out Christendom was adding the natural science major, Christendom became his philanthropic priority.
Ray sees Christendom as a place where the study of both natural and revealed truth thrive.
Recently, the college expanded its curriculum with the addition of a natural science major, providing students with a comprehensive education in the core areas of physical science while maintaining the college's Catholic liberal arts Core Curriculum. Ray has assisted Christendom in establishing the Albertus Magnus Endowment, named after the patron saint of the natural sciences, St. Albert the Great, to fund the natural science program. By marking his estate gift for the Albertus Magnus Endowment, Ray's personal passion for God's creation aligns with the college's need.
Ray was ultimately inspired to include Christendom in his estate when he found out about the college's Legacy Challenge. By matching a future estate gift with a gift today, the impact of Ray's estate commitment is maximized. "The match opportunity incentivized me to maximize what I can do for Christendom now," Ray says. Since Christendom is a relatively new college compared to many older institutions, funding an endowment through an estate gift ensures that Christendom can endure for years to come. "Through the study of natural science, we develop a greater appreciation for God's universe, and I want to preserve this for future generations."
When asked what he would tell others who have either included Christendom in their estate plans or are considering it, Ray wants to encourage them to make Christendom part of their legacy. "I want to make sure that Christendom is a part of my legacy and endures after I pass away. I made this gift so that Christendom can endure for years to come."
