A Librarian Becomes a Scripps College Benefactor

The Cambridge Dictionary defines generosity as "a willingness to give help or support, especially more than is usual or expected." It goes on to offer a particular usage: "She is admired for her generosity."

Having spent 38 years as a professional librarian, Joanna Hamel Dunklee '62 can appreciate a good definition, and she happens to embody that definition perfectly. Joanna recently provided Scripps with an extraordinarily generous gift—her La Cañada home.

Joanna's gift provides a wonderful example of how alumnae and friends can use non-cash assets to support Scripps College.

"My husband, Alfred, and I bought the house back in 1975 when he began working at JPL in Pasadena," Joanna says. "But when I began working at Cal State Dominguez Hills, we decided to find another home closer to my job."

They kept their first house and, after Alfred passed away, Joanna decided to rent the home to a friend. Soon, however, she found that "the house wasn't generating much income, and there were always things to take care of and bills to pay."

By making a gift of the house to Scripps rather than selling it, Joanna avoided paying significant capital gains tax. She also received a substantial charitable tax deduction that she will be able to use over the next six years.

Better yet, Joanna was able to use her gift to fund a charitable gift annuity, which will provide her with tax-advantaged income for the rest of her life.

"As a donor, I'm used to writing checks to Scripps," Joanna jokes. "It will be interesting to receive them."

Joanna's gift illustrates one way to transform highly-appreciated assets into tax savings and lifetime income while providing long-term support for Scripps.

"Women giving back and supporting one another is valuable," she says. "I'm very happy that I'm able to do this."