Builders & Benefactors: Honoring Heidelberg’s past, present, future Opportunity Makers

Heidelberg University welcomed supporters to campus on Sunday for a heartfelt celebration recognizing the individuals, families, and organizations whose generosity has shaped – and continues to shape – the life of the University. The Builders & Benefactors Brunch event brought together longtime donors, new supporters, campus leaders, and friends who share a common purpose: creating opportunities for Heidelberg students.

All of them have a lifetime of giving to Heidelberg of $100,000 or more. Their leadership and philanthropy are woven into Heidelberg’s story and into the lives of thousands of students. The event was an opportunity to express deep gratitude for the lasting impact of this remarkable community of donors – now 240 members strong.

A decade of momentum

Heidelberg’s Builders & Benefactors giving circle traces its roots to 2013, when former Trustee Lee Shobe ’60, retired president and CEO of Dow Chemical, championed the idea of recognizing individuals whose extraordinary generosity shapes the University’s future. Lee’s vision emphasized widening the doorway for donor recognition, creating a more accessible, inspiring structure that would encourage broader participation and spark momentum.

“It really worked, Lee,” President Rob Huntington said at Sunday’s event. “It really helped the school.”

And it did. By 2015, after the expanded recognition framework took hold, 118 Builders & Benefactors had contributed $23 million, with the value of their collective gifts surpassing $60 million.

Today, the community has grown to more than 240 members whose lifetime giving exceeds $147 million. “That’s the biggest thing we celebrate today,” President Huntington said.

Original Builders, today’s Benefactors

At the heart of this celebration is the recognition of two distinct groups: the original seven “Builders” who founded Heidelberg on November 11, 1850 – five students, including one woman, walked through the doors on opening day. These early leaders built Heidelberg through times of challenge and change, including a war that began just a decade later. Their courage and vision are the foundation on which today’s Heidelberg stands.

And, the “Benefactors”: generations of donors who have sustained the mission of Heidelberg through their philanthropy. Among this group are transformational givers like the late Frann Zverina, ’74, whose $8.3 million estate gift – the largest in Heidelberg’s history – was announced at the 2021 Builders & Benefactors event. In attendance this year were Ralph and Joan (Swinehart) Talmage ’68, the University’s highest all-time donors.

Since the last gathering in 2021:

• 43 new members have joined the Builders & Benefactors circle of donors, contributing $7.7 million
• 28 current members advanced to higher levels of giving, totaling $17.5 million

“We have done this one pearl at a time,” President Huntington said, referencing the poem Bricks and Pearls, written by Dr. Susan McCafferty in honor of his 2009 inauguration. In a touching moment, Dr. McCafferty read the poem once more, followed by the surprise unveiling of a permanent plaque beside the Builders and Benefactors Wall.

Gratitude and inspiration

In her remarks, Vice President for Advancement, Marketing, Alumni, and Community Relations Ashley Helmstetter captured the spirit of the morning.

“Gatherings like this remind us of the reasons we do what we do. They remind us that Heidelberg University is not just a place, but a community of Opportunity Makers who ensure that generations of students can learn, grow, and go on to change the world.”

The University also honored those who joined the community through estate gifts, as well as beloved members who have passed away. A moment of silence offered space to remember and honor their legacies.

Stronger because of our Opportunity Makers

The Builders & Benefactors event is more than a recognition ceremony; it is a testament to Heidelberg’s enduring mission. The support represented by this group impacts every corner of campus – scholarships, classroom innovation, research opportunities, athletics, music, student life, and so much more, Ashley noted.

As she closed the program, she expressed the University’s collective gratitude: “Your generosity is felt in every classroom, every scholarship, every research opportunity, every performance, and every success our students achieve. You are our Opportunity Makers, and Heidelberg University is stronger because of you.”