Hellers Support Scholarship Fund with Estate Gift of Life Insurance

Mark H. Heller ’74 grew up in Baltimore with his sister and mother. Wanting to provide more male influence, Mark’s mother enrolled him at McDonogh—an all-boys school at the time.

“I believe McDonogh and some of the teachers I had along the way taught me to strive to be the best I could be,” Mark says. “That has benefited me greatly.”

To ensure their support of McDonogh continues beyond their lifetimes, Mark and his wife of 41 years, Lisa, have included a legacy gift to the school in their estate plan.

“We have a second-to-die life insurance policy that we have given to the Jewish Endowment Fund of Louisiana. We have designated McDonogh School to be the beneficiary of $50,000 of that policy.”

When Mark learned about his Class of 1974 50th Reunion Gift Effort and the goal of raising $1 million for a scholarship fund, he felt an obligation to do his part. “Judaism uses the Hebrew word tzedakah, which most closely translates to English as justice. And for the last 40 years, we have always tried to do our part,” he says.

The Hellers support several organizations through annual giving. “Leveraging life insurance premiums was the best way to make a meaningful gift to the scholarship fund without taking away from our other current gifting,” Mark says. “I hope that deserving young men and women will have access to the quality of education and experiences I had at McDonogh.”

Mark encourages others to consider the legacy gifts they could leave to support future Eagles. “We all have so much for which we are grateful. McDonogh created a wonderful foundation for us to build upon throughout our lives and careers,” he concludes. “If you can afford to contribute any amount so that others may have the same opportunities that we have been granted, please join us.”