Porches Make Lifetime and Legacy Gifts to Support Current and Future Students

Norm and Nellie Porch, St. Louis, Missouri, have supported Bradley for 51 years. But beyond their annual gifts, they had one more gift they wanted to make to the university.

The couple decided they wanted to add to their lifetime donations by designating a gift through their estate. This eventual gift will be added to the Norm and Nellie Porch Endowed Scholarship, increasing the principal in the fund.

Norm, who graduated in 1952 with a degree in business administration, did not receive a scholarship when he attended Bradley. His education was financed by the federal government's G.I. Bill when he returned from military service in 1947.

"Because of the G.I. Bill, I was able to receive a great education at Bradley," said Mr. Porch, a former division manager for Laclede Gas Company in St. Louis. "Getting a college degree was something that I wanted to try to pass along to other young men and women. I wanted to see them receive the same great education I did, which is why we established the scholarship in the first place."

Norm, who met Nellie while he was attending Bradley, said the couple has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the recipients of their scholarship. Nellie is a graduate of the OSF College of Nursing in Peoria.

"We've received so many nice cards over the years, and it is really great to hear from the young people who have benefited from the scholarship," Mr. Porch said. "In fact, we received a letter from a former recipient who wanted us to know that the scholarship was still paying off because he had just made partner at his accounting firm."

Norm and Nellie understand the value of a college education and their support, both during their lifetimes and through their estate, will touch the lives of many Bradley University students.