Harvey '52 and Joanne (Varner) Peterson Make Unique Gift to Augsburg
"It felt like cutting off my right arm," Harvey Peterson '52 says about selling CATCO, the company that had been in his family for three generations. He joined his father, Art's, fledgling company, Clutch and Transmission Services, in 1951 while still an Augsburg student.
By the time the family sold the renamed company in 2012, all three of his children worked in the business. The firm, selling and servicing heavy duty parts for trucks, had grown to 18 locations spread over a five-state area.
Suddenly Harvey and his wife, Joanne '52, faced a stewardship decision. What to do with the resources God had placed in their care?
Investing in Vitality, Making an Impact
They chose to give $250,000 to Augsburg to sponsor the Electronic Modern Physics Laboratory in the Center for Science, Business and Religion.
Interestingly, they do not have a personal tie to physics. Harvey, a star athlete in high school and college, double majored in business and sociology. Joanne majored in sociology with minors in English and business. Her favorite activity on campus was singing in the Augsburg Choir.
So why sponsor a physics lab?
"Forward Momentum"
"The Center for Science, Business and Religion demonstrates how Augsburg is preparing for the future with energy and vitality, and we know that the CSBR is the next step to helping the school advance," Joanne explains. "We want to be a part of that forward momentum."
Harvey adds, "We have been giving to Augsburg for many years, and we had an opportunity after selling our business to increase our support. This gift is about our Christian faith and about relationships. We wanted to give something back to the place that means so much to us."
"We want to support Augsburg because we are thrilled that young people, especially those who have very little money, can gain access to a college education," Joanne says. "And we appreciate the college's urban location."
Choosing connection over differences
They have deep ties to the college beyond their own student years, when each lived with their families while commuting to campus for classes and activities. Their daughter Lia graduated from Weekend College, and Harvey served on Augsburg's Board of Regents from 1984-1996. He was elected to the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983 for his contributions as a quarterback for the football team, and shortstop and third baseman for the baseball team.
Harvey says he and Joanne are more conservative than many people on campus today. That potentially could have gotten in the way of their support for Augsburg. He reflects, "Our faith teaches us to give. And now when we reach the point in our lives where we can give a more sizeable gift, we think carefully about where to put our dollars. We ask ourselves, ‘What do we love?' And we realize how much we love Augsburg. This college has meant so much to us over the years. We feel it is a good place for us to put the money."
Paid-Up Life Insurance Policy Made a Wonderful Gift
The Petersons surrendered a life insurance policy to Augsburg, which had gained more value than they realized. Augsburg sold the policy for the cash value to make the dollars available immediately for the CSBR. Giving this investment provided tax advantages, and the couple added a gift of cash to expand their gift. "We set up the policy years ago," Harvey says, "but we had ignored the notices on value. Suddenly this seemed like a wonderful choice for a charitable gift."
The Petersons live in Edina, Minn., and are members of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
Have You Planned a Gift to Augsburg?
Donating a life insurance policy is just one way you can support the students and programs at Augsburg. There are many types of planned gifts that can provide you with benefits as well. Contact Amy Alkire at 612-330-1188 or alkirea@augsburg.edu today to learn more, at no obligation.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.