Building Westmont's
Future Together
Our Gift Planning team has experience across a range of giving opportunities, and we are always available for phone calls and personal visits to discuss your particular areas of interest, from designating Westmont in your wills or trusts to exploring life income gifts with generous tax benefits.
We offer supplemental estate planning and tax guidance information on these web pages through our planned giving partner, Crescendo Interactive, Inc. Based in Camarillo, CA, Crescendo has been a preferred service provider for over 30 years among colleges, universities, faith organizations, professional advisors and other nonprofit organizations.
Steven Jay Davis
Senior Director of Gift Planning
An Estate Plan Provision to Develop Competent and Courageous Christian Leaders
Looking back, Jan Thornton-Cheveres '57 believes her time at Westmont set in motion important events in her life. "The high-quality academics, the deep
friendships, the Christian values I formed, and the connections I made have created ripple effects throughout the years," she says. "Since studying
education at Westmont, learning and teaching have become my passion. My years there provided a lifelong foundation of ministry in education. I want to turn
that blessing into opportunities for others to build their careers and lifestyles around the Lord Jesus Christ."
Jan transferred after three years and graduated from Seattle Pacific University. She married and raised two children, but she struggled to find a calling in
life and an outlet for her love of teaching.
Eventually she earned a master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1980, hoping to lead small groups and teach Bible studies. She went
to work for World Vision International and spent 17 years training staff members and developing their leadership skills. She traveled throughout the world
giving seminars and workshops.
"I became especially fascinated by experiential learning," she says. "I enjoyed thinking about how people grow individually and in groups. Leadership
development has been a particular interest, especially in this age of deteriorating role models."
Jan retired in 1997 to Camarillo, Calif. and lived with her husband, Bob, a retired Air Force pilot, until his death in 2017. She continues to be active in
her local church, teaching neighborhood outreach programs to connect people to their neighbors, the church and God.
Jan has made a provision for Westmont in her estate plan and belongs to the Wallace Emerson Society. "It seems such a natural for Westmont to emphasize a
leadership program to develop competent and courageous Christian leaders," she says. "I can't think of a better place to invest my resources than in
developing young men and women for future leadership."
Reproduced with permission from the November 2013 Westmont College Magazine.
For more information about ways you can include the college in your estate plan, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at (805) 565-6058 or [email protected].
An Estate Plan Provision to Develop Competent and Courageous Christian Leaders
Looking back, Jan Thornton-Cheveres '57 believes her time at Westmont set in motion important events in her life. "The high-quality academics, the deep
friendships, the Christian values I formed, and the connections I made have created ripple effects throughout the years," she says. "Since studying
education at Westmont, learning and teaching have become my passion. My years there provided a lifelong foundation of ministry in education. I want to turn
that blessing into opportunities for others to build their careers and lifestyles around the Lord Jesus Christ."
Jan transferred after three years and graduated from Seattle Pacific University. She married and raised two children, but she struggled to find a calling in
life and an outlet for her love of teaching.
Eventually she earned a master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1980, hoping to lead small groups and teach Bible studies. She went
to work for World Vision International and spent 17 years training staff members and developing their leadership skills. She traveled throughout the world
giving seminars and workshops.
"I became especially fascinated by experiential learning," she says. "I enjoyed thinking about how people grow individually and in groups. Leadership
development has been a particular interest, especially in this age of deteriorating role models."
Jan retired in 1997 to Camarillo, Calif. and lived with her husband, Bob, a retired Air Force pilot, until his death in 2017. She continues to be active in
her local church, teaching neighborhood outreach programs to connect people to their neighbors, the church and God.
Jan has made a provision for Westmont in her estate plan and belongs to the Wallace Emerson Society. "It seems such a natural for Westmont to emphasize a
leadership program to develop competent and courageous Christian leaders," she says. "I can't think of a better place to invest my resources than in
developing young men and women for future leadership."
Reproduced with permission from the November 2013 Westmont College Magazine.
For more information about ways you can include the college in your estate plan, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at (805) 565-6058 or [email protected].
Donor Stories
Learn how our supporters have made an impact through their acts of giving to Westmont. Be inspired by the various ways of giving used by our alumni, parents and friends.