Honor Someone Special With a Future Gift in Their Name
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If you have a loved one who has been impacted by American University, establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor your loved one or celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday while supporting the work of our mission. Your memorial or tribute gift will be a lasting tribute to your loved one and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Putting Planning into Action

Jack and Phyllis Townsend
American University is fortunate to be the beneficiary of Dr. Edgar "Jack" Townsend, CAS/BA '66, MA '68, EdD '72, and Phyllis Nadeau Townsend, CAS/ BA '69, in their choice to establish the Dr. Bernard A. Hodinko Endowment. This fund, established with a lead commitment from the Townsends, honors Hodinko for his life's work toward educating student affairs professionals and enhancing the responsiveness of the AU student affairs program to the needs of its students. The Hodinko fund makes it possible for AU student affairs staff to participate in conferences, workshops, and training programs that introduce them to leaders and seasoned professionals in their field and deepen their understanding of student development theory, practice, and research.
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"When I first began my studies with Dr. Hodinko in 1968, most colleges and universities viewed student personnel work as controlling student behavior," explains Dr. Jack Townsend. "He brought a different perspective, and one that integrated adolescent developmental theory into our understanding of students and their experiences during the college years. It was a fresh approach and one that eventually became the standard for those going into student personnel work. He helped to educate many individuals who joined the ranks of higher education at a time of its most prolific growth—the Baby Boom—and provided a structure for how students should be treated."
The Townsends funded their commitment through a Charitable Gift Annuity, providing a generous donation now that's invested to provide them with guaranteed retirement income. In the future, the remaining amount will be utilized to endow the Hodinko Fund in perpetuity. As a wonderful added benefit, the Townsends' generosity has inspired others influenced by Hodinko's work to support this worthy fund.
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Your payments depend on your age at the time of the donation. If you are younger than 60, we recommend that you learn more about your options and download this FREE guide Plan for Retirement With a Deferred Gift Annuity.
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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. 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. 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. Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.