Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2013

Meet, Greet, Eat 26 | Cedarville Magazine Bill Bigham Vice President for Advancement At Cedarville since 2008 I met a donor for lunch at a Pizza Hut. It was located across the street from his workplace, and we blended into the “working lunch” crowd that was served in “15 minutes or less.” He was a regular there. They knew his order. The purpose of my visit was to learn about his interests in giving and thank him for what he’d already done for Cedarville. Over personal pan pizzas, we talked about Cedarville’s role in Christian higher education and really anything else he wanted to talk about. He invited me to come see his factory, and I learned more about his business. Not long after that visit, he and his wife gave one of the largest endowed gifts in Cedarville’s history. Their gift will provide four-year scholarships for Christian school students in their area. Moral to the story: Never underestimate the potential of a $5 lunch. Contact me about gifts of all sizes and types. I enjoy helping people view their resources as a blessing to accomplish the Lord’s purposes. Also, I like pepperoni, sausage, and banana peppers. 937-766-7810 bbigham@cedarville.edu Matt Pogirski Associate Director of Gift Planning and Endowment At Cedarville since 2000 In May 2012, I had lunch with a 1996 grad at Dinosaur Bar–B–Que in Syracuse, New York. The restaurant has other locations in New York, but this was “the original,” and it was hoppin’. The wait was 30 minutes for lunch on a weekday, but the pulled pork and brisket was worth it. The weather was perfect, so we got an outdoor table. We talked about the scholarship he wanted to create and fund through an insurance policy. He has been giving to the Cedarville Fund since he graduated, and he wanted this scholarship to help students who transfer to Cedarville from Word of Life, like he did. I enjoy helping donors direct their philanthropic interests at Cedarville in ways that reduce tax penalties and allow them to use their money to do private good. Contact me about estate giving, annuities or trusts, or named endowments. If you’re creating a scholarship, I’ll meet you for lunch anywhere. 937-766-8600 pogrsk@cedarville.edu There’s something friendly about sitting together around a table and sharing a meal. It slows the pace of conversation and eases the formality, especially when you’re meeting someone for the first time. Cedarville’s Advancement staff includes six gift officers who spend considerable time on the road, meeting people and building relationships that literally advance the University. It’s hard not to love a job with priorities that include “meet, greet, and eat!” Here, Cedarville’s gift officers share some of their favorite mealtime memories. Wade Harris ’99 Director of the Cedarville Fund At Cedarville since 2011 This spring, I met a group of recent engineering graduates for dinner at Chaplin’s, a tiny local seafood restaurant in New London, Connecticut. The chef cooks everything on a six-burner stove. I had their daily special, which was salmon and shrimp, and I tried scallops for the first time. I don’t even like seafood, but I thought the food was phenomenal. Even though I’d never met these alumni, we shared a common bond in Christ and in Cedarville. It was easy to enjoy a good meal and good conversation, and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into their engineering world. We talked about the importance of giving and how they could possibly work together on something to benefit the engineering program. Experiences like these encourage and shape me. I walk away feeling blessed to know how God is working in people’s lives. Contact me about being involved in students’ lives through giving. If you’re ever at Chaplin’s, try the daily special, no matter what it is. 937-766-7802 harrisw@cedarville.edu