LOU SCHROETER ’69

How a smart decision will benefit the school I love

I chose to put my Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., property into a charitable remainder trust for Peddie because I believe the best hope for the future of America is honest, independent education. Gradually, the five-hour trip to our Martha’s Vineyard home became more arduous and the island a lot more crowded. Looming repairs would have to be addressed. The idea of a family legacy property was not making the same sense it had 23 years ago. A broker sale would have a lot of complications and the capital gains tax on the sale would be too much lost.

Funding high-standard education at Peddie would turn this property into an opportunity for others. I am glad my parents sent me to Peddie, and I feel that is one part of why I give back … and the school and the students of today is the other part.

Making the decision to put our entire Martha’s Vineyard property into a charitable remainder trust for Peddie turned out to be easier than I expected. The property and the amazing sense of fulfillment it had given me has now taken on a new form of gratification, far beyond the 4,400 square footage of land.