2007-2008 Annual Report

“I just loved her so much,” Fred Erdman recalled, as his voice choked back the tears. The emotion is still fresh when he speaks about his wife, Terri. “She was my angel.” He was a street-smart entrepreneur with a 10th-grade education. She was a cardiovascular nursing specialist, one of just 400 nationally accredited critical care nurses in the country. They had both come through difficult marriages, and though she was 20 years his junior, she stole his heart. For Fred, the 15 years they spent together were the happiest in his life. When she passed away in 2007, he was devastated. Fred put aside his business while dealing with his grief, and he drew daily strength from cards and letters expressing what a difference Terri had made in people’s lives. Coworkers who had relied on her experience and composure, patients whose lives she had saved, and friends who simply felt her loss — they all demonstrated what a well-loved woman Terri was. Their heartfelt expressions inspired Fred to institute an enduring tribute to his wife, and he decided to establish a scholarship fund through his estate. With a granddaughter in the nursing program, his interest was drawn to invest in Cedarville. He had long been aware of the University’s quality reputation, but he was especially drawn by the spiritual foundation Cedarville students receive. He could see that nursing students like his granddaughter were being prepared to treat the whole patient — body, soul, and spirit — just like Terri had always done. Fred realized his gift would have a tremendous impact on Cedarville’s nursing department, which had comparatively few scholarships to offer its students. He decided to make Cedarville University the beneficiary of his entire estate in order to establish the Teresa L. Palmer-Erdman Memorial Nursing Scholarship for nursing students with financial need. Upon Fred’s death, the assets from the sale of his home and business will be transferred to Cedarville and invested in his scholarship fund. The principle will never be spent; only the interest earnings from the fund will be awarded to students. This guarantees that the fund will continually award scholarships in Terri’s name. Fred has already begun to fund the scholarship so that three students can benefit from his gift during his lifetime. Once his estate is settled, up to five nursing students will benefit each year. “Mr.Erdman’sgiftrepresentsasignificant advance for Cedarville University,” said Kim Longo, associate vice president for development. “Not only will his gift increase our nursing scholarships by 50 percent, but it also stands as a monument of his love for his wife.” This extraordinary gift has influenced Fred’s life as well. “When I established this scholarship, I felt so good I thought my whole body would explode,” he said. “I’m at a point in my life where I have all I need. But I don’t want to just sit around and watch TV — I want to do everything I can to make this scholarship grow.” To that end, Fred has reopened his business, knowing that additional revenue will eventually benefit his scholarship. In short, he is a new man. “Terri was such a beautiful person, inside and out,” he said. “It feels good to know that students are going to benefit from this gift for years to come and that Terri’s work will be continued in their lives.” Learn more: www.cedarville.edu/giftlegacy An Endur i ng G i f t F rom a Fu l l Hear t After his wife’s death, Fred Erdman found new purpose in life — honoring her memory. Fred Erdman established the Teresa L. Palmer- Erdman Memorial Nursing Scholarship for nursing students with financial need. 17