As we look toward our next print issue, we invite you to take five minutes to reconnect. Did you grab coffee with an old friend, retire, or start a new venture? Your classmates are waiting to hear from you.

How to Share Your News:

• Via Email: Send a quick note (and a high-resolution photo!) to magazine@bates.edu.

• Online: Visit our , designed to be quick, easy, and mobile-friendly.

• By Mail: We welcome receiving your letters at
  乐播传媒 Magazine Class Notes
  2 Andrews Road
  Lewiston, ME 04240

• Submission Deadline: Our team is always collecting notes, but to ensure your update is included in the Fall 2026 issue, please submit by August 3, 2026.

While the median age for a first-time QCD gift at 乐播传媒 is 76, there is a significant advantage to starting as soon as you are eligible at age 70陆. The majority of donors, 75.6%, who switched to using their QCD for 乐播传媒 support were able to increase their average annual gift by nearly 55%.

Why is this better than a standard gift?

Lowers Your Taxable Income: Unlike a regular withdrawal, a QCD is excluded from your adjusted gross income (AGI). This is a major advantage even if you don鈥檛 itemize your deductions.

Satisfies Your RMD: If you are age 73 or older, a QCD counts toward your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), allowing you to meet your obligation without increasing your tax bill.

Protects Other Benefits: By keeping your AGI lower, a QCD may help you avoid higher Medicare premiums or the taxation of Social Security benefits that can be triggered by higher income levels.

What鈥檚 Changed in 2026?

Annual Outright Gifts: You can now direct up to $111,000 per year (up from $108,000) directly to 乐播传媒.

The Life-Income Option: You may also take advantage of a one-time election to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) using a QCD. For 2026, the limit for this one-time gift has increased to $55,000. This allows you to support the college while securing fixed payments for yourself or a spouse.

A Legacy Beyond Your Lifetime

While QCDs are a powerful way to give today, you can also ensure the future of 乐播传媒 by naming the college as a beneficiary of your retirement account, a simple step that allows these tax-burdened assets to pass to the college entirely tax-free.

To learn more, contact us at giftplanning@bates.edu | 800-762-3145. As always, please consult your financial advisor or tax professional for advice tailored to your personal situation.

For Lisa Romeo 鈥�88, the Bobcat spirit isn鈥檛 just a phrase, it鈥檚 a lifelong practice. She has shaped the college鈥檚 future through her leadership as Alumni Council president and her roles on the College Key, on the 乐播传媒 Fund Executive Committee, and as a volunteer for Alumni in Admission and Purposeful Work. Whether she is organizing a Reunion or informally mentoring a young alum, Lisa鈥檚 enthusiasm is a catalyst that inspires.

By including 乐播传媒 in her estate plans, Lisa ensures that the spirit of shared purpose she values will be available to students for generations to come. In her own words, 鈥溊植ゴ� fostered a spirit of curiosity, learning, critical thinking, and shared purpose that continues to influence me today. This gift reflects my gratitude for those gifts and the broader community with whom I have interacted over many years of volunteering for 乐播传媒, and my hope that future generations will benefit from the same opportunity to learn and grow. The world is better with Bobcats in it!鈥� Her gift is a powerful reflection of her gratitude for the community and an act of service to the college she loves.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a member of our staff, please contact the 乐播传媒 Office of Gift Planning at 800-762-3145 or聽giftplanning@bates.edu.

The class also honored the late John Hester 鈥�75 with the 50th Reunion Philanthropic Leadership Award for his beneficiary designation that came to 乐播传媒 in 2024, adding $3.2 million to 乐播传媒鈥� unrestricted endowment, a cornerstone of the college鈥檚 yearly operations budget.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a member of our staff, please contact the 乐播传媒 Office of Gift Planning at 800-762-3145 or giftplanning@bates.edu.

At its heart, philanthropy is an act of connection. We give to the places that shaped us, the communities that supported us, and the institutions that reflect our deepest values. That connection evolves after graduation, sometimes spanning generations.

Take, for example, a member of the Class of 1967, Bruce Lyman. Through his volunteer work at a community kitchen, Bruce met a talented young man named Chandler. When Chandler found himself graduating from high school and looking at colleges, Bruce recommended his alma mater 乐播传媒. He also reached out to the track coach with a ringing endorsement.

Chandler was accepted and is now thriving. Today, he is pursuing a path toward engineering, performing with the Manic Optimists a cappella group, and competing on the track team. As Chandler recently wrote to his mentor: 鈥溊植ゴ� has been the best thing that ever happened to me. Thank you for your effort in allowing me to attend this school.鈥�

Through Forever Garnet, a new volunteer program helping elevate the way we engage with one another and the future of the college, we are committed to fostering connection. Forever Garnet is about deepening your ties to 乐播传媒 while helping fellow alumni discover the ways they can have an impact on and participate in 乐播传媒 today.

Volunteers are deepening relationships with classmates and sharing the latest news from campus. They play a vital role in keeping alumni involved and encouraging classmates to participate in virtual and in-person alumni programming. From these connections grows commitment.

For many Bobcats that I have the opportunity to meet, making a commitment to 乐播传媒 means leaving a lasting legacy to ensure a new generation of students finds their place at 乐播传媒. For all of these connections and commitments, the 乐播传媒 community is truly grateful.

鈥� Rebecca Lazure, Director of Gift Planning

To learn more, contact us at聽giftplanning@bates.edu聽| 800-762-3145.聽But, don鈥檛 just take it from us. We can put you in touch with alumni who can share more about the reasons they have updated their giving strategy for 乐播传媒.

From the moment Steve Moore 鈥�91 carried his belongings up to the third floor of Smith South as a freshman, he felt the kindness that is a unique aspect of the 乐播传媒 residential experience. That first impression and the transformative power of the liberal arts have fueled a lifelong commitment to 乐播传媒. This winter, Steve deepened his longstanding commitment to 乐播传媒鈥� future by signing an estate commitment form to document his gift and designate it toward a newly established fund, the Steven C. Moore 鈥�91 Fund, which will be directed to 乐播传媒鈥� unrestricted endowment.

When the opportunity to work in higher education arose, Steve felt it was a natural fit; he knew firsthand how much 乐播传媒 had shaped his own path. Serving as the vice president for Campus Services at Dartmouth College and, before that, as chief financial officer at Milton Academy for many years, Steve navigated a financial model he describes as incredibly complex. 鈥淚t is this very high-touch residential experience that can change your life,鈥� he notes, 鈥渂ut cheap, it is not.鈥� This professional background in academic administration and finance gives Steve a deep appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work required to deliver an exceptional student experience.

Steve鈥檚 giving is rooted in a desire to see students tackle the world鈥檚 most complex issues, from navigating diverse perspectives to sustainability. 鈥溊植ゴ� is my highest philanthropic priority because I know it firsthand,鈥� Steve explains. 鈥淚 know the impact of 乐播传媒鈥� campus community: I experienced it, and I benefited from it. Without exaggerating, 乐播传媒 fundamentally changed me as a person in very good ways and gave me so many lifelong friendships.鈥�

By consistently giving back through his philanthropy, Steve ensures that the college continues to produce leaders who become entrepreneurs, scholars, advocates, and educators. This winter, Steve deepened his longstanding commitment to 乐播传媒鈥� future by signing an estate commitment form to document his gift and designate it toward a newly established fund, the Steven C. Moore 鈥�91 Fund, which will be directed to 乐播传媒鈥� unrestricted endowment.

Steve plans to support this fund during his lifetime while continuing his annual support of the 乐播传媒 Fund. Ultimately, his estate gift to the endowment will ensure a transformative 乐播传媒 experience for generations to come. His legacy is one of trust鈥攊nvesting in a mission he knows firsthand will continue to uplift the common good.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a member of our staff, please contact the 乐播传媒 Office of Gift Planning at 800-762-3145 or giftplanning@bates.edu.

Make a gift to the 乐播传媒 Fund

Gifts to the 乐播传媒 Fund and the support every aspect of the 乐播传媒 experience for today鈥檚 students and may receive a federal income tax charitable deduction. If you itemize, you can write off the amount you鈥檙e donating, resulting in lower taxable income. Unsure of whether your gift is tax-deductible? Contact your financial advisor or tax consultant.

In addition to making a gift by check or a secure online gift via credit card, there are a number of creative and tax-wise options that might be right for you, particularly with the change in tax laws coming in 2026

Use Appreciated Securities

For securities held longer than one year, you may be able to deduct the full fair market value and avoid capital gains tax. Learn more about how to get started.

A tip about timing: If the securities are electronically transferred to us, the gift date is the day the securities enter our account鈥攏ot the date you ask your broker to make the transfer.

Make a gift from your donor-advised fund (DAF)

DAF giving to 乐播传媒 is easier than ever. You can make a DAF gift right on our

If you prefer to use your DAF鈥檚 portal, select “President & Trustees of 乐播传媒 College” as the recipient (tax ID 01-0211781). For gifts made via your DAF portal, we always suggest emailing us at gifts@bates.edu with your name and any designation preference, just in case that information doesn鈥檛 come through on the transfer. 

Make a Gift From Your IRA

At 70 1鈦�2 or older, individuals can make a of up to $108,000 from their IRAs. The direct distribution to charity would not be included in taxable income, lowering your tax liability even if you do not itemize. If you are required to take minimum distributions, you can use your gift to satisfy that requirement. 

A tip about timing: Your IRA administrator must remove the funds from your account by Dec. 31 for your donation to qualify this year. If you have check-writing features on your IRA, your check must clear your account by Dec. 31 to count toward your required minimum distribution for the calendar year.

Beyond annual support: Make a gift that pays a fixed income for life

You can use cash or securities to fund a charitable gift annuity. In return, 乐播传媒 pays you a fixed amount for life. You receive a charitable deduction for a portion of the gift, and part of the annuity payments are tax-free. Additionally, if appreciated stock is used to fund the charitable gift annuity, capital gains tax can be reduced. 

A tip about timing: Please contact the Office of Gift Planning by December 22 so we can show you an illustration of how this kind of gift can be tailored to your goals and arrange for the annuity before year end.   

Visit the 乐播传媒 Ways to Give website and talk to your financial advisor about how these tax provisions may affect your giving. Thank you for your support and friendship and for being such an important part of our 乐播传媒 community.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a member of our staff, please contact the 乐播传媒 Office of Gift Planning at 800-762-3145 or giftplanning@bates.edu.

The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results.

• now and later. It can satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution. A beneficiary designation for the future can do even more.
• Plan ahead for your . Make 乐播传媒 the beneficiary.
• Fill out a Bequest Intention Form so we can count your future gift toward your giving totals.
• Set up a to benefit you, family, and 乐播传媒.
• Transform into endowment support 

To learn more, contact us at giftplanning@bates.edu | 800-762-3145. But, don鈥檛 just take it from us. We can put you in touch with alumni who can share more about the reasons they have updated their giving strategy for 乐播传媒.

For Carol Chase Bjerke 鈥�65, time spent at 乐播传媒 set the stage for her artistic career. Carol was a visual artist and educator whose work is anchored in her love of mountains and rock walls, intertwining with self-expression, communication, healing, and change themes. Now, thanks to a recent gift from her husband, Lee Bjerke, her work continues to inspire and teach as part of the 乐播传媒 Museum of Art’s collection. 

Already, Carol鈥檚 multimedia art has been used in ways that carry forward her legacy as an artist-educator. It was recently featured in the exhibition ARRAY: Recent Acquisition Series. Students in K-12 schools in the Lewiston / Auburn area have viewed and discussed her original work, which includes a series of Leaf Poem monographs on gelatin silver photographic paper that connect landscape and poetry.

When Carol embarked on her Life Boat series, also now in the 乐播传媒 Collection, she brought together the power of art and healing. Describing the collection in 1997, she wrote, 鈥淪omewhere amidst the enormous number of thoughts and images that crowded my mind in the hours following my first cancer diagnosis was the childhood memory of rowing a boat.鈥� Work from this series complements works by other artists dealing with these issues and are used regularly in a museum collaboration with the Maine College of Health Professions. Students use the museum鈥檚 collection to practice deep-looking sessions when they spend time developing observation and communication skills across health care disciplines.

Carol鈥檚 memory will also live on through the Carol Chase Bjerke 鈥�65 Financial Aid Fund, which Lee established in her memory through a combination of current gifts and an estate commitment. The fund is truly a shared tribute to Carol. 

Thanks to the generosity of her family, Carol鈥檚 legacy will continue through a gift of art, which generations will enjoy, and an endowed scholarship that will allow future 乐播传媒 students to embark on their own creative journey for years to come.

This year marks Brandon Villalta Lopez’s (Class of 2025) fourth and final Mount David Summit. Now one of 乐播传媒鈥� newest alumni, Brandon shared that the Summit felt like home because of the support from faculty who are 鈥渘ot just good teachers and good researchers, but also great mentors.鈥�

On April 4, members of the Phillips Society and other 乐播传媒 supporters returned home to campus for the first Phillips Society Summit Luncheon. Gathering as a community, we celebrated the impact of long-term commitments to 乐播传媒 made through estate gifts. President Garry Jenkins addressed the group, highlighting the breadth of membership that the Phillips Society represents, whose oldest member graduated in 1941 and youngest in 2017. It represents alumni from all walks of life: teachers, social workers, doctors, managers, lawyers, and CEOs, and everything in between. Each member has found creative ways to amplify their future philanthropy.

The power of this generosity was visible throughout Pettengill Hall when the Summit鈥檚 student poster sessions, scholarly talks, and performances took center stage. As alumni donors shared in the experience, legacy gifts’ impact on student and faculty excellence came into focus.

Phillips Society member Dave Welbourn 鈥�71 shared remarks during the event, 鈥淚鈥檓 really grateful that 乐播传媒 is always looking forward. Faculty teach history about the future, and this kind of education leads to optimism. I think we all know that the arc of justice over a lifetime, while it has bumps in that course, bends upwards, ever upwards. So when we get together as alums and we talk about what鈥檚 been going on, the happy future is assured in a place like this.鈥�

Thank you. Because of your generosity, 乐播传媒 is home to great teaching, research, and mentorship.