2000-2001 Annual Report

ast year, Ben Mohler, a 2001 graduate of Cedarville, benefited from the gifts of those who helped “Bridge the Gap.” This year, as the youngest of the 250 President’s Associates, he is helping to bridge the gap for this year’s students. And he is following in the footsteps of his parents, Tom and Martha Mohler, who have been involved as President’s Associates for four years. “My parents often reminded me how blessed they were by giving and how significant Cedarville has been to them. Even before graduation, they challenged me to consider becoming a President’s Associate immediately, giving $1,000 a year,” shared Ben. “This was a great opportunity to reflect my gratitude to Cedarville. I was familiar with the struggle to make ends meet as a student, and I knew that the gifts of others kept costs from being passed along to students. Giving is a great way to be an example to my sister and brother, too.” His parents are speaking the same message to his sister, Rachael, a senior math education major. Tom explained, “Martha and I challenged her like we did Ben to consider doing this following graduation. Some of this is out of hindsight, because we did not commit to give after we graduated, and, frankly, we missed so much.” “We have told our kids that many have invested in them as students,” Tom continued. “I have given them the gap speech–that tuition and fees do not cover the entire cost of their education, and gifts make up the gap. I know becoming a President’s Associate can be a very high bar for a new graduate, but I want my children to see the benefits of giving. I know it is not important how much they give, but that they are giving, and giving to ministries that have influenced them.” The Mohlers have one more family member to join their circle. “Our son, Josh, who is 15, is seriously considering becoming involved,” Tom confirmed. “It intrigues him to think that he could become the youngest Associate. But seriously, it is a joy as parents to see your children commit to fulfill God’s command to give. Giving to our church and giving to Cedarville have provided us with something to share as a family.” The Mohlers are just one of 18 families who have made President’s Associates a family affair. Many more families are represented through gifts toward the Annual Fund, several participating through the Torch Club ($100 per year) and Charter Society ($500) as well. Jeff Brock, who oversees the Annual Fund, explained, “In the hundreds of gifts given annually to ‘Bridge the Gap’–that is what we call the Annual Fund–I see many family connections. I have to believe that they are encouraging each other to invest in Cedarville. Families like the Mohlers are replicated all through the greater Cedarville family.” Harold and Helen Amstutz have helped to bridge the gap since 1975 and have been President’s Associates since 1994. Now two of Harold and Helen’s children, Kent Amstutz and Lynn Rohm, and one grandchild, Jackie Wetzel, have also joined. That makes five Associates from their family. Harold shared, “Our family became involved with Cedarville in 1953 after Dr. Jeremiah became president. He invited me to speak in chapel, and my annual visits to speak in chapel caused me to encourage our children to enroll. Since that time, our children, grandchildren, and their spouses have graduated with accredited degrees that gave them easy access to the workplace. God has blessed our family with 15 Cedarville graduates that serve their families today. So you can see that it is easy for us to invest in Cedarville’s ministry. We followed the lead of my brother and sister-in-law (Myron and Pat Amstutz) in joining President’s Associates, and Helen and I count it a privilege to be involved. It is gratifying to see so many of our family follow in our footsteps, too.” To begin or increase your family legacy in bridging the gap, please contact Jeff Brock at 1-800-766-1115, brockj@cedarville.edu, or visit Cedarville’s Web site at www.cedarville.edu and click on “Financial Partners.” Bridging the Gap: A Family Affair L 11