Announcing the $200,000
Caxy Legacy Challenge
Be a part of the Inspire & Invest Initiative by including LFA in your estate plan
Lake Forest Academy proudly announces the launch of the Caxy Legacy Challenge (CLC), fueled by Ferry Hall alumna Sheri Kersch-Schultz ’72 of Seattle and LFA alumnus David Gupta ’81 of Chicago. As a final phase to the Academy’s Inspire & Invest Initiative, the CLC empowers estate gift donors to see both immediate and long-term impact when they inform LFA of a new or previously undocumented deferred gift commitment.
With documentation of a new or existing estate gift, CLC donors gain access to funds from a challenge pool of $200,000 made possible by Kersch-Schultz and Gupta. The estate gift donor then directs the unlocked challenge pool dollars—up to $10,000 per donor—to an existing endowment fund of her/his choice. Documented estate commitments received before January 31, 2022, are eligible for inclusion in the school’s $20 million Inspire & Invest Initiative.
The $20 million Inspire & Invest Initiative began in 2018, responding to LFA’s Strategic Plan, with a challenge to the Academy family to increase the permanent endowment through student scholarships, faculty professional development funds or endowed faculty chairs. The endowment’s market value on June 30, 2021 was approximately $56.3 million.
“I am deeply grateful to Sheri and David for their latest commitment which will inspire Ferry Hall alumnae, LFA alumni, parents and alumni parents to step-forward and assist us as we close out the Inspire & Invest Initiative,” said Head of School José M. De Jesús, P’22. “I am thrilled to announce this special partnership between a Ferry Hall alumna and LFA alumnus.”
A strong endowment provides security in the face of unforeseen circumstances—such as those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Academy’s endowment continues to grow through estate gifts, endowed fund commitments and prudent investment management, though a school of LFA’s size, stature, age, operational breadth and program expanse needs a substantially larger endowment to remain competitive with other independent schools. Growing the endowment to three times the operating budget of $24 million or more will position LFA well for its future, offering deserving students access to scholarships while attracting and retaining first-rate faculty.
What are the details of the Caxy Legacy Challenge?
CLC participants are afforded the opportunity to simultaneously create a perpetual philanthropic legacy at LFA while also seeing immediate impact from their commitment. Details include:
- New estate gift commitments or existing commitments not previously documented with the school will be eligible for the Caxy Legacy Challenge.
- Eligible commitments include gifts from wills, living trusts and charitable trusts. Other estate gifts may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Eligible estate gift commitments of $50,000 or more will unlock 10% of the gift’s face value from a challenge pool—to a maximum of $10,000.
- Challenge pool funds will be directed to an existing endowment fund of the donor’s choice.
- Estate gift commitments must be documented via an LFA Bequest Intention Notification form and/or a copy of the page of the donor’s will, living trust, or charitable trust pertaining to the gift benefiting LFA.
- For donors age 68 or older, commitments documented on or before January 31, 2022, may be counted at full or partial value toward the Inspire & Invest Initiative.
- All CLC participants will gain membership in the Richards & Tremain Society—a recognition organization for members of the LFA/Ferry Hall community who have included the school in their estate plans.
For more information about the Caxy Legacy Challenge or to inform the Academy of your estate commitment, please contact a member of LFA’s Advancement team via email or phone:
Rob Buckla: rbuckla@lfanet.org or 847-615-3276
Ruth Keyso: rkeyso@lfanet.org or 847-615-3268
Christine Ryder: cryder@lfanet.org or 847-615-3215
Garry Sloan: gsloan@lfanet.org or 847-615-3287