Easy impact that gives back

Bryn and Barbara Ostby joined the Manitou Heights Society in 2019 by making a planned gift. For both, it was a way to share the benefits of their St. Olaf education.

What prompted your planned gift?

Barbara: Seeing the commitment St. Olaf and Oles have made to diversity and inclusion — compassion, inclusion, and integrity are important values to our family. They also guided us in our careers — mine in education and financial planning, Bryn’s as a Marine veteran and attorney in estate law. We had started making current gifts from our IRAs when the tax law changed a few years ago. It provides us a tax benefit and increases the gift and impact we can help provide. For our 55th reunion we included the college as a beneficiary in our retirement plans and shared the news with our kids.

Why is supporting St. Olaf important to you?

Bryn: Meeting each other our senior year was very significant. So too was our education. I took every course I could from Howard Hong — they’ve been a treasure in a lifelong search for meaning and purpose, in life and society. My education made clear why honoring our obligations to each other is important.

Was the decision hard?

Barbara: At St. Olaf, I had support, worked every day, and got an excellent education. Being able to give back and create opportunities for young people is a great feeling. It was an easy decision to make.