12th Annual Duke University Heritage Society luncheon
On Wednesday, June 10 we welcomed over 80 local members of Duke’s Heritage Society at our annual recognition luncheon. We had a wonderful time catching up with longtime friends and supporters of Duke University.
Every year the Office of Gift Planning invites our Heritage Society members residing in the Triangle area to lunch at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club as a way to thank them and recognize their special connection to Duke University. We think this year’s event was our best yet!
Our guests were greeted with limeade and mimosas—perfect refreshments for a 90 degree summer day! Soon after, Phil Buchanan, assistant vice president of the Office of Gift Planning, welcomed the group and provided some recent highlights at Duke.
The luncheon keynote speaker was Dr. Norman Wirzba, professor of theology, ecology, and rural life at Duke Divinity School, and research professor of theology and ecology at the Nicholas School of the Environment. Dr. Wirzba has devoted much of his research and teaching towards understanding the connection between food production and consumption in today’s industrialized world, and his topic featured “Food, Farming, and Faith.” His examination of food distribution practices and its intersection with theology gave us much to contemplate. Be sure to view some of Dr. Wirzba’s YouTube videos for more insight.
The Duke University Heritage Society was established in 1989 to honor all alumni and friends who have included Duke in their estate, retirement, or other longer-term plans. There are currently over 3,400 known members of the Heritage Society worldwide!
Planned gifts support Duke in a very unique way. While current gifts are vital to supporting Duke today, planned gifts are integral to Duke’s future. They can provide scholarships for incoming students, establish new programs and buildings, support research and development and so much more. Deferred gifts help shape Duke for future generations. Thank you to our Heritage Society members for all you do to support Duke!
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