The Benefit of Giving Back
Norma and Dean Wilson know the power of giving back. By supporting scholarships for first-generation music students, they were able to see their impact firsthand.
"She was just the most accomplished young woman," Norma said of Sanaz Bashiri '21, a recipient of the Norma and Dean Wilson Scholarship. "We were really impressed. It cemented the fact that Chapman makes good citizens out of its students."
Their Chapman journey began with their daughter attending the university. But it was after she graduated when they genuinely got in touch with the Chapman community. They were invited to Founders Day, and that experience brought them back into the fold.
"Dean and I really enjoy the cultural connections and the people we meet. It's very enlightening. We really do appreciate the friendships that we've made within the community."
The Wilsons keep a close eye on Chapman and love to attend the numerous events open to the public. A recent event that caught their attention was Dr. Anuradha Prakash's Town & Gown discussion about the environmental impacts of our eating habits.
"Something we are always in awe of is the research being done at the school. The way they're going about instruction and pursuing new discoveries – it's very rewarding. Dr. Prakash's research was just another example. It was very eye-opening."
Being engaged inspired their generosity. The Wilsons have supported numerous areas across campus, which led them to consider their Chapman legacy.
Through charitable gift annuities, Norma and Dean will create an endowed scholarship after their lifetimes that benefits the first-generation music students they so admire. Because charitable gift annuities also provide a lifetime income to the donor, they are also supplementing their retirement.
Norma and Dean always encourage fellow members of the Chapman Family to give if they have the means. Especially in these trying times, helping the leaders of tomorrow is more important than ever.
"We've been impressed with Chapman's commitment to research that relies heavily on student involvement. So many young, creative minds coming together will most certainly come up with new achievements. Our charitable gift annuities can help many of these students. It's a good financial investment for the donor too. It gives a good return, and it's safe and easy," Norma and Dean concluded.
Inspire Your Legacy
For information about creating your Chapman legacy, contact us.
- David B. Moore (M.A. '09), (714) 516-4590 or [email protected]
- Lindsey Jacobs '09 (M.A. '18), (714) 628-7311 or [email protected]
