The Benjamin Savage Society

GIFT PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

Seton Hall Chapel is not dedicated to a canonized saint or to a famous historical personage. In fact, it is dedicated to the memory of an ordinary man of modest means. Benjamin Savage came to Seton Hall in the 1880's as a strapping young man, but not to be a student. Ben worked quietly and humbly for more than fifty years on the campus, tending the cows that gave milk for the priests and the students of the Seton Hall community. View the members of the Benjaman Savage Society

Benjamin Savage was an ordinary man who lived and worked at Seton Hall for more than half a century. He worked very hard, tending cows and laboring as a worker on Seton Hall's farm, and saved the money he earned. When "Old Benny" died in 1933, he left Seton Hall his entire estate---the first planned gift in the school's history! In today's dollars, the amount of his gift would total over $145,000! In addition, Benny also designated Seton Hall as the beneficiary of his life insurance policy which, in today's dollars, exceeded $70,000.*

It is in Old Benny's honor that Seton Hall has established The Benjamin Savage Society to honor and recognize donors who use a planned gift to provide for the University's future endowment. Gift planning opportunities are discussed throughout the website. Participation at the $5,000 level in any of the following gift programs entitles a donor to membership in The Benjamin Savage Society:

1. Bequest in Your Will or Living Trust
2. Charitable Remainder Trust
3. Charitable Lead Trust
4. Gift Of Life Insurance
5. Gift Of Retirement Assets
6. Charitable Gift Annuity
7. Gift Of Real Estate or A Retained Life Estate

A separate page will list all current members of The Benjamin Savage Society (The membership list is being updated to reflect publication permission and will be available here shortly) and future donors will also be recognized on the website. In addition, membership in The Benjamin Savage Society entitles a donor to invitations to estate planning seminars, the Benjamin Savage Annual Luncheon, special University functions and, for gifts disclosed during the Ever Forward campaign, a listing in the Ever Forward Honor Roll of donors.

If you have already included Seton Hall in your estate plan and would like to be added to The Benjamin Savage Society donor page, please contact Joe Guasconi, Director Of Gift Planning, at (973) 378-9850 or simply complete and submit the Estate Intention Form.

*Taken in part from Father Cafone's Ever Forward launch campaign homily