LWLBC

An inheritance will become a lasting legacy

/by

Dave Assmus has a lifelong connection to Wilderness Canoe Base (WCB). Now, thanks to some intentional and thoughtful planning, he will be turning a plot of pastureland in South Dakota into a lasting legacy for the camp that has had a significant impact on his life.

“I’m grateful to be able to have an impact on a place that’s so meaningful to me, and that will extend beyond my lifetime,” Dave says. While the gift may seem complex at first, the result will be a significant gift to create an endowment fund providing annual revenue for the ministry of Wilderness Canoe Base.

Working with an advisor from the ELCA Foundation, Dave and his spouse Ruth created a Charitable Remainder Unitrust from the proceeds of the sale of land he inherited from his parents. That trust will provide annual income to the Assmuses through their lifetimes, then will benefit their children for a set number of years, after which the trust will be transferred to Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp Inc., designated to benefit Wilderness Canoe Base.

“We truly appreciate Dave and Ruth’s vision and desire to make this amazing commitment to future Wilderness campers and staff!” says Nate Berkas, WCB Director. “This gift will impact Wilderness Canoe Base for generations to come!  Even thinking about that is hard to comprehend, but so exciting!”

By sharing their story with you, Dave and Ruth hope to inspire other friends of Wilderness to consider similar legacy gifts. These can range from a simple bequest (naming the organization in your will) to a more structured gift like theirs. “This gift took some time, but it wasn’t difficult to set up,” Dave says. He emphasizes that “it’s important to start planning now for what you want your legacy to be!”

Executive Director, Heather Eggert adds, “We are deeply grateful to Dave and Ruth, not only for this legacy, but for a lifetime of friendship, philanthropy, and dedication to outdoor ministry. We also appreciate the partnership and expertise provided by the ELCA Foundation to structure this gift in a way that will benefit both the family and Wilderness Canoe Base. It’s beyond any gift we could have imagined.”

If you have questions or would like more information about ways to make a legacy gift to Camp Wapo, Ox Lake or Wilderness Canoe Base, please reach out to our director of donor engagement, Gay Gonnerman, gayg@campwapo.org or 715-883-0411.