The annual report for the foundation’s fiscal year ending on June 30, 2017, is now available for viewing at this link. The annual report includes a list of gifts given to the MLS Foundation during the fiscal year.
We would like to thank you for your support of the MLS Foundation as it works to advance the mission of Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
“I thank my God every time I remember you.”
Philippians 1:3
The MLS Foundation would like to invite you to celebrate the tradition of football, food, and fun at MLS. Join us on Friday, October 6, at 5:00 p.m. (on the practice field along Hardin Street). We’ll have roasted pork and lots of great sides on the menu.
Tickets are necessary—reserve yours in advance since this party becomes more popular every year, and you don’t want to miss the fun!
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
The time has come for some exciting changes at the MLS Foundation!
We are implementing a new software program at the foundation. As a result of this change, you will now be able to create your own portal account to make gifts, view gift history, purchase event tickets, and more.
To sign up for your portal account, please visit https://app.donorview.com/pqjk and use the email address we have on file for you. Signing up with this email address will ensure that your gift history and event tickets will import correctly to your portal account. After you set up your portal account you will be able to change your email address if you wish. Click here to view a tutorial that will walk you through the process of setting up your portal account. If you aren’t sure what email we have on file for you, please contact the office.
It is important to note that if you set up a one-time or recurring gift, it will process immediately. If you have been making monthly gifts on our old system and your gift has already processed for this month, you can set up your portal right away, but you may want to wait until next month to set up your gift schedule to avoid a duplicate donation.
By now you have probably heard about the next big project the MLS Foundation is supporting at Michigan Lutheran Seminary – the Big Backyard project. We nicknamed it the Big Backyard project because while it includes updates to the athletic field area, it will impact student life in a broader sense. The first phase – office consolidation – is already underway, as you can see from the photo below! Click here to view more information about the project.
As part of the office consolidation portion of the project, our office will be moving upstairs – where the MLS Business Office is currently.
Joyce Schultz will be retiring at the end of August, after 11 1/2 years of faithful service to the foundation. There were many changes throughout those years but Joyce’s dedication remained constant. We celebrated her service at our recent board meeting.
God’s blessings on your retirement, Joyce!
Thank you to those who attended and supported the 2017 MLS Foundation Cardinal Classic Golf Outing! Through the support of 21 volunteers, 135 golfers, and over 50 sponsors, the golf outing raised $16,270. This support is crucial in helping the foundation fulfill its mission of supporting Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
Here is a breakdown of the day’s winners:
First Flight, First Place:
Dan Maul, Josh Wakefield, Jason Finelli, and John Simpkins
First Flight, Second Place:
Mike Baeckl, David Lecker, Jeremy Schultz, and Eric Scheuerlein
Second Flight, First Place:
Arlene Mossner, Michael Mossner, Jim Trommer, and Becky Trommer
Second Flight, Second Place:
Mike Reis, Keith Schultz, Jim Thews, and Mark Thews
Men’s Closest to Pin:
Wayne Pennell
Women’s Closest to the Pin:
Grace Johnson
Men’s Longest Drive:
Eric Scheuerlein
Women’s Longest Drive:
Grace Johnson
Men’s Closest in Two:
Raine Vrable
Women’s Closest in Two:
Grace Johnson
Closest to the Line:
Joe Schram
Putting Contest:
George Britton
Our foundation board president and his team (Mike Krueger, Kevin Krueger, Billy King, and Bob Lindsmith) had the highest score and went home with some nice Christmas inflatables for their yards.
The team of Hunter Miller, RJ Pratt, Johnathon Boyd, and Jacob Wright won the contest for the “most creative” team photo (although we do not advocate trying this pose yourself).
Please mark your calendars for next year’s event, which will be held at Beech Hollow Golf Course on Saturday, July 21, 2018. Check out our Facebook page (http://goo.gl/YYvO4P) and the MLS Foundation website (www.mls-foundation.org) for details.
Sincerely,
Your 2017 Golf Committee:
Thom Cereske
Bruce and Diana Finkbeiner
Jim Finkbeiner
Chris Kestner
Ned Kleinke
David Lecker
MLS Alumni enjoying time at the Cardinal Classic
To all:
Thank you to those who attended the 2014 MLS Foundation Cardinal Classic Golf Outing and those thinking of us that day. It was a beautiful day filled with fun and fellowship! Your support and participation helped to make this event a big success.
There were 116 golfers, 18 volunteers, and many generous sponsors. The golf outing raised $16,000.00. This support is crucial in helping the foundation fulfill its mission of supporting Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
If you were at the golf outing, volunteers included, your name was in the hat for two tickets to watch the Detroit Tigers take on the Kansas City Royals on September 8. Craig Rau won the tickets, which were donated by Donnie Krzysiak of Krzysiak’s House Restaurant in Bay City. Have fun at the ballpark, Craig!
Here is a breakdown of the day’s winners:
First Flight Champions – 2nd year in a row – with a score of 58 (-14):
George Hausmann, Ned Kleinke, Mark Ostermann, and Raine Vrabel
Second Flight Champions with a score of 68 (-4):
Kyle Hilborn, Lee Williamson, Rick Richter, and Josh Richter
Closest to Pin, Men (hole #17):………………… Joe Schwartz
Closest to Pin, Women (hole #4):……………… Kathy Packard
Longest Drive, Men (hole #3):………………….. Hal Seibert, winning four years in a row!
Longest Drive, Women (hole #14):……………. Becky Trommer
Closest in Two, Men (hole #15):……………….. Paul Davila
Closest in Two, Women (hole #5):…………….. Arlene Mossner
Putting Contest Champion:……………………… Josh Wakefield
“Don’t Lose the Yellow Ball” Winners:
Mike Baeckl, Ryan Abel, David Lecker, and Jeremy Schultz
Please mark your calendars for next year’s event, which will be held at Beech Hollow Golf Course on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a shotgun start 9:30 a.m. Check out our Facebook page (http://goo.gl/YYvO4P) and the MLS Foundation website (www.mls-foundation.org) for details. While you’re on our website, be sure to sign up for our Cardinal Classic e-mail updates.
Sincerely,
Your 2014 Golf Committee:
Bruce Finkbeiner Diana Finkbeiner
Thom Cereske Mike Baeckl
Chris Kestner David Lecker
Ned Kleinke Terianne Carey
Joyce Schultz Erin Smith Josh Wakefield
Dear MLS Foundation Friend:
The MLS Foundation has some exciting news to share! We are having a great year, thanks to our many supportive donors. The generosity of our donors never ceases to amaze me! The support we receive is a wonderful blessing, and it continues to grow each year. We could not fulfill our mission of supporting Michigan Lutheran Seminary if we didn’t have you helping us. By God’s grace we are able to play a small role in helping Michigan Lutheran Seminary with capital projects, student tuition assistance, scholarships to Martin Luther College, operating expenses, and events that bring the MLS family closer together.
DORM UPDATE- It’s Moving Along and We Need Your Help!
The furniture is done and ready for delivery! A delivery date has been tentatively set for July 7, 2014. The foundation has received $364,000.00 toward the project. Our goal to complete the project is $650,000.00. You might be wondering how we can have a delivery date without having all the funds to complete the project. That is where the planning comes in. The MLS Foundation board agreed to support this project. At the last quarterly meeting, they approved the financing of the project and will secure a low-interest loan through Lutheran Association for Church Extension (LACE) for any funds needed to complete the project. This funding will allow MLS to complete the project this summer, eliminate the cost of waiting ($45,000 +/year), accommodate donors who want to support the project but have annual limitations, be ready for synod convention in 2015, support the ministry of LACE, get the students excited about coming back from summer vacation, and the list could go on and on. Now is the right time to do this. Every student that resides in the dormitory will move into a new room next year. The students are excited about that! The completion of this project will enhance the student experience at MLS, and the Foundation is excited about that! There will be new furniture, paint, flooring, window treatments, heating units, door locks, and controlled Wi Fi installed throughout the dormitory.
The MLS Foundation has been blessed with an endowment fund that will cover monthly obligations of the loan. As gifts continue to come in for the project, they will be used to pay down the loan. That is where you can help. Every dollar that is given towards the project above the monthly payment will go directly to the principal of the loan. Any gift you provide will help us complete the funding of this project. Please consider a gift today.
We are very grateful that we are able to help Michigan Lutheran Seminary move this project along. The students are very excited about this project and are thankful for the support! Between this upgrade to the dormitories and the Chapel renovation back in 2011, there will have been over $1.1 million in gifts given for these campus improvements. To God be the glory!
There will be much more information to come as the project draws nearer. There will also be volunteer opportunities with this project. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Laurie Starr at 989- 793- 1010, or e mail las@mlsem.org to sign up. You can get updates and follow the progress at www.mls-foundation.org.
We have many ways for you to donate:
In Christian service,
Josh Wakefield
Donor Relations Director
Greetings from the MLS Foundation! I just want to give a quick update on the dormitory project and a reminder that IRA charitable rollovers are scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2013.
The dormitory project includes new furniture, flooring, paint, and window treatments. I am excited to report that we are almost half way to goal! Currently we have enough funds to renovate 51 rooms with 67 to go. That is over $280,000 in gifts! What a tremendous blessing. (Check out our progress here)
The students are really excited about the project and anxiously await the new look!
EXTENSION ON 2010 TAX RELIEF ACT
In conversations with donors this past week, the topic of individual retirement accounts (IRA) and required minimum distributions (RMD) came up frequently. A required minimum distribution is a minimum amount that a retirement plan account owner must withdraw annually starting in the year they reach 70½ years of age. Many donors in this demographic will consider gifting their RMD or a greater amount if they don’t need it for living expenses. This may allow them to avoid paying federal taxes on the distribution and help a charity they care about.
There is a law (2010 Tax Relief Act) that passed and was extended that allows an IRA account holder over 70½ years old a $100,000 lifetime gift exclusion limit from their IRA account to a charity or charities of their choice. Unless congress acts, the IRA account holder has until the end of December 2013 to take advantage of this giving strategy.
This could be a great opportunity for you or someone you know to make a gift this way and support the MLS Foundation in making the dorm project a reality!
Here are two links that provide additional information about this topic:
Qualified Charitable Distributions
As always, please seek professional advice from your attorney, tax consultant, and investment adviser before making a gift.
Thanks for your support!
Josh Wakefield
MLS Foundation
