“So be true to your school now,
Just like you would to your girl or guy,
Be true to your school now,
And let your colors fly!”
–The Beach Boys, “Be True to Your School”

This classic song is admittedly one of my favorites. Back in high school, I was big on school spirit; I was a cheerleader with a lot of pride and energy. I loved learning, had a lot of educational goals, and dreamt of getting into a great college. When it came time to choose a university, an important box that needed to be checked was a large sense of community. That’s why Notre Dame was the perfect college for me.

September 1st is National College Colors Day, and Notre Dame’s blue and gold always take me back to some of the happiest days of my life. It’s where I met my husband, formed amazing friendships, and created wonderful memories (including rushing the field when the Irish football team won the Fiesta Bowl to become National Champions in 1988). Notre Dame impacted me so positively that after graduating from law school, I served on the board of directors of the Notre Dame Club of Los Angeles for many years.

Now that our sons have graduated high school, we have more college colors to celebrate in our household! I often sport my sons’ college colors over the weekends: maroon and white for Matthew (Texas A&M), and blue and white for Jonathan (Colorado School of Mines). I can’t tell you how many people come up to me while I am out and about wearing my Aggie or Oredigger garb to talk to me about their experiences with these schools!

There are so many things that college colors signify: tradition, lifelong friendships, the excitement of the big game, the sense of camaraderie we feel with others who share our background, the cohesiveness of the environment where many of us lived away from home for the first time, and being a part of something that is bigger than ourselves.

College colors have become quite a visible part of our society: We dress our kids and our pets in our college colors, we hang college flags outside our homes on game days, and we adorn our cars with college stickers and license plate frames.

Many people also choose to honor their alma mater (or other charitable organizations) in their estate plans. I love hearing my clients talk about why these organizations are important to them. Helping clients decide on the best way to create a legacy with their favorite organization (whether it’s an outright gift, funding a scholarship program, or establishing a charitable remainder trust) is one of the most fulfilling parts of my job. On a related note, a number of years ago, I had the privilege of negotiating a gift agreement that resulted in the construction of a new building on my high school’s campus.

Have you wondered about including your alma mater or other charity in your estate plan? Or making a significant lifetime gift? Call us — we’d love to help you think through the possibilities.