Bequest and Charitable Gift Annuity

Of particular importance to Everett J. Higbee ’35 was the growth of the general endowment at Peddie School. Everett was a class secretary and often marveled at the greatly expanded curriculum upon his return to campus. After his passing in October of 2001, his widow Katherine “Kitty” Higbee wished to perpetuate her late husband's commitment to education and his alma mater.

Together with her financial advisor, Kitty designed an estate plan which combined a charitable bequest and a charitable gift annuity for which she was entitled to an immediate income tax deduction and payments for life. She became a Bell Society member in 2002 and attended the annual spring luncheons on campus. In 2008, Peddie received a bequest from Kitty's estate and the balance of her charitable gift annuity, and Peddie added the entire gift to the school’s general endowment fund.

"Kitty wanted to give the Peddie trustees the flexibility of unrestricted giving, to best help the school meet its priorities," said Alison Lahnson, director of planned giving at the time of the bequest.