Leaving a Legacy: Pat Venable Jungmeyer
Pat Venable Jungmeyer
Did you ever think that your garage filled with bikes, tools, and dusty keepsakes could also be the home of unknown treasures? Pat Venable Jungmeyer didn't think so until she learned about companies in town that make it easy to sell your possessions on eBay.
"If you sell your items through eBay, the money goes directly to the CSU Foundation," says Pat. "The CSUF then sends a letter receipt stating the amount of money you have donated. It does not count as income, but as a direct gift to CSUF."
"My father-in-law, E. Clay Venable, was a Boy Scout executive in the 1920s and continued as an active leader for many years. We ‘inherited' all of his books and materials, and I was told that I should give them to somebody who would enjoy them. I took an inventory of the items in my garage and brought them to a local store that sells items on eBay. After a couple weeks, I followed the sale online and saw that part of it had sold for $2,000. That was exciting!"
"Later, when I asked if we should pick up the remaining materials that had not moved, I was astonished to learn that all of it had sold for a total of $12,000!" Thirty percent went to the company that sold the materials and the remaining $9,700 went to the CSU Foundation and was deposited into the CSU Women's Association Scholarship Fund. Part of the proceeds funded two student scholarships and the rest went to the CSUWA Endowment Fund. I received a nice tax deduction, CSU got a donation, and the company did the work."
"The Boy Scout materials went to a man who established a Boy Scouts of America Museum," Pat says. "My father-in-law would be so pleased to know his treasures went somewhere they could be maintained and enjoyed. The dollar proceeds went to scholarships for students, memorializing his teaching and scout leadership careers. This was such a win-win project for us all."
Pat Venable Jungmeyer attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with a music education degree. She says some of her greatest accomplishments were working with the Poudre School District and her volunteer work in the community. She worked as an administrative assistant to the superintendent of schools. Now retired, she enjoys playing piano with the Dixieland band at her church and continues to actively volunteer in the community.
"Philanthropy is a passion of mine," Pat says. "It's about realizing the needs of the people in the world and figuring out how you can help in your own small way. I want people to know about this option of giving. There are many people my age who are looking to downsize and want to get rid of stuff that they don't need and their kids don't want. There are ways to give without having to work hard or make large sacrifices. I made this donation because of my belief in education as well as a desire to give back. My hope is that this scholarship opportunity will encourage deserving recipients and make a difference in their lives so they can stay in school and achieve their goals."