Fifty years after graduating from Trinity, Tom Tonoli ’69 and his wife Jean are enjoying retirement in Fort Collins, Colorado, a place they have called home for several decades. “The good standards and thoughtful perspectives of Trinity professors helped shape attitudes and abilities that served me well in my public education career,” Tom fondly recalls. “Habits of study and preparation, necessary at Trinity, were part of the value I received. The small student body and small class sizes created year-after-year connections and friendships that have lasted over a half-century.” 

For his 50th Reunion, Tom and Jean made a gift to the College in exchange for a charitable gift annuity. The annuity will provide them with an income stream for the rest of their lives as well as a current income tax charitable deduction. Ultimately, the remainder of the annuity amount will be used to augment the Class of 1969 Scholarship fund. 

A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is a simple contract that provides advantages for the donors and for Trinity. By funding a CGA, donors such as Tom and Jean receive guaranteed payments for life, as well as an income tax charitable deduction. The payout rate on a charitable gift annuity is a fixed rate based on the age of the annuitant(s) at the time the gift is made. Trinity invests the annuity amount and, when the CGA matures, the remaining proceeds provide valuable support to Trinity. Charitable gift annuities may be funded with cash or securities. Payments may be made to one or two annuitants for their lifetime(s).

“I wouldn’t have been able to attend Trinity without scholarship assistance from the College. Generous donors changed my life for the better by creating my Trinity opportunity, and now it is my turn to support future students. The Class of 1969 Scholarship Fund will help the College attract and retain highly qualified students from all economic backgrounds. A charitable gift annuity enables us to make a more substantial contribution to the Class of 1969 Scholarship Fund. We encourage others to do the same.”