For Suzanne Day ’87, the decision to include Western Reserve Academy in her estate plan is a natural extension of a lifelong relationship with the school. It is a choice shaped by gratitude, service, and a desire to ensure future students have access to the same transformative education.
Her advice to others considering a planned gift? “Planning is not as bad as you think!” In fact, she found the process both meaningful and surprisingly easy. “Estate planning gave me the opportunity to consider experiences that impacted my life and think about what sort of legacy I’d like to leave behind.”
Unsurprisingly, Western Reserve Academy is at the top of her list. “My father is a proud St. Andrews alum, so my parents understood that Reserve was a really good investment.” Growing up in Hudson, Suzanne attended WRA as a day student. Reserve allowed her to maintain close relationships with her hometown friends while also building friendships with boarding students, faculty members, and their families.
“Being on campus after hours was really delightful to me,” she recalled. “I loved visiting dorms, the seated meals, and building relationships with the parents of my friends who were also teachers.”
Reserve also helped shape interests and habits that have remained with her throughout her life. Suzanne appreciates that students were expected to participate in athletics each season, an experience that helped inform the active lifestyle she enjoys today. She even helped establish the first girls cross country team. “Jeff Warner graciously volunteered to be our coach, and it was such a formative experience for someone getting ready to go to college—both the athletic part and the leadership part.”
Beyond the friendships, traditions, and extracurricular experiences, Suzanne credits Reserve with giving her an academic foundation that prepared her exceptionally well for college and her career in law. “My ability to read, synthesize, and write about complex texts was invaluable and set me up for my career as a lawyer,” she said. “I haven’t received this level of instruction since.”
This enduring impact has inspired Suzanne to support WRA not only through her board service and annual giving but also through a planned gift that will benefit generations of Pioneers to come.
“The place I dedicate the most time, energy, and philanthropic dollars on a consistent basis is Reserve,” she said. “Reserve has been so impactful to me and to my sister. The community, the faculty, the administration, the coaches, and my advisor did so much to set me up for success that I want to repay this in some way.”
Through her estate plan, Suzanne commits to helping bridge the gap and preserve the people, programs, and experiences that make a Reserve education distinctive. Her giving reflects both an expression of gratitude for what WRA made possible in her own life and an investment in what can be made possible for others.
© Pentera, Inc. Planned giving content. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer