"Geneva College saved my life,"

"Geneva College saved my life,"

says Yvonne S. Gentzler '75 PhD, Associate Professor Emerita, University of Minnesota (1953-2021). When Yvonne first visited Geneva, she didn't have a direction for the rest of her life or even for the next few months, but she discovered something unexpected - it felt like home.

The people she met beginning on day one were friendly, fun, kind and caring, and they became her fast friends. She trusted them enough to be herself. "It was exactly what I needed but didn't know I needed," she says.

These Geneva friendships shaped who she would become. Yvonne not only developed a love for Jesus and a robust faith, she earned a PhD and inspired others, including her colleagues at a handful of esteemed institutions, where she served and worked collaboratively to create ventures to sustain human health and well-being.

Several years ago, Yvonne received a diagnosis of early dementia. The outpouring of support from those students, who she influenced as Sigma Phi Epsilon's first Faculty Fellow, was profound. It highlighted her impact on the students, which she attributes to the meaning Geneva had in her life: "It always meant more to me because it was home."

Yvonne has completed the circle of influence that started her first day at Geneva by committing to establish an endowed scholarship through her estate. Generations of students will continue to be blessed through her thoughtful and generous gift.

To learn about other ways to support Geneva, including gifts that provide lifetime income, we invite you to explore our website at http://geneva.giftlegacy.com or feel free to contact us to discuss how you can support Geneva through planned giving.