Donor Stories

Every day, Bay-lovers just like you make profound contributions to the Bay's future through planned gifts to CBF. Through legacy gifts like charitable bequests and life-income gifts like charitable gift annuities, your friends and neighbors are pledging to protect the Bay and its rivers and streams now and well into the future.

Together, this rising tide of support lifts all our boats. Donors secure their retirement, provide for their families, and leave a legacy of clean water. And CBF enjoys increased security so we can achieve our mission of a saved Bay.

Click the photos below to read personal stories from fellow Chesapeake citizens who've joined The Nellie Semans Society and made an impact. Have questions? Please contact us.

Mervin Richard and Judith Brodie
Growing up in Queen Anne's County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the rivers, streams, and creeks that flow through
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Ron Rothman & Robin Stricoff
Every Friday evening May through August starting in 1991 and continuing without pause till 2015 we gathered our son Ezra, our weekend packs, and headed from Philadelphia to...
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Helen and Albert Powell
During many years as an Earth Science teacher with Montgomery County, I took advantage of the learning opportunities offered...
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Jim & Lise Crafton
The Chesapeake Bay is the defining natural treasure of the Mid-Atlantic and we've been fortunate that it has always been a part of our...
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Kent Pruefer
Many of us daydream about spending our days outside. Some of us chose professions that allow us to help other people. Kent Pruefer...
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Bob and Jan Tindall
Bob Tindall and his wife Jan have long shared a love for the Chesapeake Bay and have included CBF in their estate plans...
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Ed and Sharon Zondag
Ed and Sharon Zondag are CBF members who have made saving the Bay a part of their legacy. Sharon is a former executive with a national jewelry retailer...
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Harriet Quandt
Even at the age of 91, Harriet Quandt is often asked by friends, "You are not one of those green environmentalists are you?" Her response is an emphatic, "Oh yes, I am!"...
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John Zehmer
Water has always been a part of John Zehmer's life, so it's no surprise he chose to make a gift to CBF as part of his legacy. John grew up in Newport News, Virginia...
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Linda and Cliff Rossi
"We established an endowment to support CBF in our will because we want future generations of young people to experience the Bay firsthand so they can learn to treasure it as we do."
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Richard E. Wilson and Eliot M. Girsang
Richard E. Wilson and Eliot M. Girsang share an intense passion for cleaner water and are doing their part for the future of the Bay by including CBF in their estate plans...
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Stanley and Joanne Spooner
Stanley Spooner loved boating on the York River near the home he shared with his wife, Joanne, and their five children outside Yorktown, Virginia...
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Brian Dillistin
Chesapeake Legacy Circle member Brian Dillistin's passion for the Bay runs deep. From age two, he spent summers at his grandparents' family home on the Corrotoman River in central Virginia.
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Bill Bartlett and Mary McNally
After learning about how closely CBF's work aligns with their interests, Bill Bartlett and Mary McNally were inspired to make a generous legacy gift to the Our Bay, Our Legacy campaign.
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Bruce Seligmann and Karen Junghans
We grew up with the Bay in our backyard, and have so many childhood and adult memories centering on its bounty and beauty. Crabbing and...
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Virginia Voght Rocen
The Chesapeake Bay has always played an important part in my family's lives. We had a home on the Bay for many years where we enjoyed kayaking, sailing, motor boating, fishing, and crabbing.
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Gift Examples

David Mooberry
My late wife and I moved to Delaware from the Midwest in 1954 and were captivated by the Chesapeake. We taught ourselves to sail in the Northeast River...
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Dr. Sara Henry
Dr. Sara Henry has had a lifelong love affair with nature...
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Bequests
Joe and Anna have been faithful supporters of our organization over the years. Both of them strongly believe that it is important to support and encourage our mission.
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Fixed Income for Retirement
After working for decades as a pediatrician in a small rural town, Patricia was ready to retire.
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Tax-Free Sale
Howard and Lynn were age 55 when they purchased some land outside of town, and they thought it would be a good investment that they could later sell.
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Capital Gains Tax Bypassed
Peter and Gail were nearing retirement. Over the years, with the help of their financial advisor, they made solid investments in securities.
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Peace of Mind Gift Annuity
Many years ago, Clara bought a home. Since she was so pleased with the home, she decided to buy stock in the company that built it.
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Endowment Gift
Pat and Shelly were recently married. They had both been dedicated volunteers at their favorite charity for many years.
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Sale and Unitrust
Gene and Carol purchased stock in a small medical service company several years ago. Now, Gene and Carol are looking for a way to save taxes.
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The Retirement Unitrust
Mary grew up on a farm. When her parents passed away, she inherited the farm. Now, several developers would like to build homes on the farmland.
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Property Turns Into Income
Miranda lived in the family home where she and her spouse had raised their children. After her spouse passed, Miranda found it increasingly difficult to care for her home.
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Flexible Deferred Gift Annuity
Lewis is a 54-year-old executive at a large healthcare company. He purchased company stock during years when the stock price was low, and now the stock has grown substantially.
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Part Gift and Part Sale
Susan and Kevin bought their first home many years ago. They had planned to build a second home so that their children could spend their summers along the lake.
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Current Gifts
As is the case with many families, there are times each year when Jim and Sharon focus their attention on gift giving.
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A Bequest to Further Good Work
Nancy and David were dedicated volunteers. Over the years, they had seen many individuals helped by the good work of their favorite charity.
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Deferred Gift Annuity
Several years ago Larry and Allison invested $30,000 in what they believed to be an attractive stock. It turned out to be a very wise decision.
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What Will You Do with Your Unspent Retirement Savings?
Michael and Kelly were retired engineers with two adult children. They owned a home, some stocks, and IRAs.
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Gift Annuity for Real Estate
Jonathan purchased a home many years ago for $80,000. The home has appreciated substantially over the years and is now worth $420,000.
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A Bequest to Save Taxes
Thomas was a widower who had a great love for our organization. As an individual who had directly benefited from our work.
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Leading for the Future
Luke and Candice spent many years volunteering and supporting their favorite charity. They wanted to give back in a way that would help fulfill its mission.
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Give it Twice Trust
While visiting the Wills Planner on her favorite charity's website, June, a surviving spouse, came across the idea of a Give it Twice Trust.
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Providing for Our Children's Future
Joe and Kathy worked for years building their nest egg for retirement. They also want to provide for their children.
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Bequest of Insurance
Marla and Wayne purchased a life insurance policy many years ago to create security for their childrens' future.
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Testamentary Charitable Remainder Unitrust: Have Your Cake and Eat it Too!
We have all heard the saying "Have your cake and eat it too." It's something we say when we can have more than one good thing at the same time.
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A Blended Gift to Reach a Goal
Jay wanted to support one of our priorities at a significant level–$100,000. However, he was only willing to give $25,000 in cash gifts that year.
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