By God’s grace, we have been blessed to work with several financial partners who have believed in and supported this work through their contributions to student giving. In many cases, their giving has gone far beyond money, as they have offered their wisdom and insight to students in and outside the classroom.
The philanthropy initiative at Baylor University immediately resonated with us because we recognized the value this experience and exposure will have for our students. God has blessed us as we have sought to follow His will in our stewardship and giving, but we continue to learn and grow at an accelerating rate now more than 25 years removed from receiving our Baylor degrees. It is obvious to us how beneficial it would have been for us as Baylor students to learn that stewardship, philanthropy, and generosity are totally applicable and relevant to young and energetic students as they live in and prepare to leave the university context. Each student’s time, talents, passions, and resources are gifts from God that can be powerfully used for His glory and honor, and we look forward with great anticipation to see how God will work in and through each Baylor student who is touched and trained to think prayerfully and strategically about philanthropy in this program! We wholeheartedly share the vision that this philanthropy initiative will grow to have a tangible and positive influence on every student that walks onto the campus of Baylor University.
–Mark & Shannon Leyerle
In no instance have I seen the professors and leaders of a university so quickly adopt and support this [initiative] and what it represents. As we partner with additional universities, the professors of the new courses recognize the thought and reflection that [Baylor] put into structuring [its] course and grant-making process. [Baylor] has quickly become a sought-after resource for these professors at schools like UCLA, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M.
–Lauren Wolter, (past) Program Director, The Philanthropy Lab