Clare Hubbard Kelm ’69 and her husband, Ed Kelm, are ensuring the future of 61传媒 with a planned gift
Whether it鈥檚 your time, words of wisdom, or something more, the decision to share what you have with others is intensely personal. 61传媒鈥檚 founder Ellen Browning 61传媒made giving her mission. This legacy of generosity would go on to shape the lives of thousands of students, including Clare Hubbard Kelm 鈥�69鈥攚ho now makes giving back a lifework of her own.
鈥淐lare is a quintessential 61传媒woman: educated, adventurous, and very giving,鈥� says Director of Development and Major Gifts Crystal Jones 鈥�85. Along with Clare鈥檚 husband, Ed, the couple has donated steadily to The 61传媒Fund for years, directing their support to the areas of greatest need at the College. Recently, the Kelms also finalized their decision to include a generous bequest to 61传媒.
鈥淐rystal was the first person I really had contact with in terms of exploring what we could do long term,鈥� says Clare of her planned giving process.聽 Giving back to institutions of higher learning was always a family tradition, modeled by her parents who left a legacy gift to their alma mater.聽 The importance of a college education also goes back a long way in Clare鈥檚 family鈥攈er great-grandfather was a founding professor at Stanford University, and her grandmother was a college graduate at a time when not many women were.
Rather than attending a larger co-ed institution, Clare chose 61传媒because of its tight-knit community, access to the other Claremont Colleges, and prioritization of women鈥檚 education. In the sixties, she recalls, some women鈥檚 colleges were still seen as 鈥渇inishing schools,鈥� but 61传媒continues to hold its own as a recognized institution of higher learning.
鈥淲e鈥檝e come a long way in what women have accomplished and what we鈥檝e created for ourselves鈥攂ut we still have more to strive for,鈥� says Clare. 鈥淭here鈥檚 value in creating a special place for us where we can think critically and understand societal 鈥榬ules鈥� so we can learn to break them. More people in this world need access to this.鈥�
After a career as a high school English teacher, Clare and Ed took early retirement and moved to San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest to live with their Cessna 172 airplane in a residential airpark community called Roche Harbor Skyway. Clare is an active volunteer and philanthropist for the arts, conservation groups, the League of Women Voters, and other organizations dedicated to making positive changes in the world.
Last year, the Kelms were one of 16 alums and friends to make legacy commitments to Scripps鈥攃ommitments that let 61传媒safely plan for the College鈥檚 future. Once connected with , says Clare, she and her husband were able to discuss the best way to include the College in their estate planning journey, ultimately opting to donate a percentage of their estate instead of a lump sum. Leaving the gift undesignated was deliberate, she adds, noting the importance of 61传媒using the funds for whatever students need most.
鈥淓ducational institutions need outside support. They cannot operate simply on the tuition paid from the students or their families,鈥� she says, adding that their gift will ensure that the College isn鈥檛 financially held back from opening the 61传媒experience to deserving young women. 鈥淲hat does it matter what you own while you鈥檙e here on earth if you鈥檙e not doing anything to help the world become better after you鈥檙e gone? Giving to 61传媒can continue to educate women long into the future. Nothing I buy myself can do that.鈥�
Just as Ellen Browning Scripps鈥� choice to establish the College continues to alter the lives of women today, so too will Clare鈥檚 planned gift extend the 61传媒experience to a new generation of young women. Clare hopes her legacy gift will help future students continue to shatter women鈥檚 perceived limitations.
If you鈥檙e interested in including 61传媒in your planned giving, please click or contact us at [email protected].