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Celebrating the Philanthropic Spirit Through Planned Giving

Monique, Bob and Marcelle

Past directors of gift and estate planning Monique Gaudin Gardner and Robert “Bob” Gross with current director Marcelle C. Highstreet

Loyola University New Orleans has offered a planned giving program (now known as Gift and Estate Planning) for more than 40 years. Through the generosity of our donors, the program has grown and provided critical support for the university. In 1980, Clarence Guillory served as Loyola’s first planned giving director. Robert “Bob” Gross succeeded him in 1995. When Bob retired in 2014, Monique Gaudin Gardner took his place. Each built on their predecessors’ achievements and strengthened the program with care, continuity and commitment.

Bob has a background in law, musical performance, and symphony management. He believes that the key to planned giving is interpersonal relationships and the ability to listen to people. In fact, he found that his passion for music was shared by many Loyola supporters, many of whom pointed to Loyola’s outstanding music program with pride.

Monique was originally drawn to Loyola because of strong family ties to the university. Generations of her family attended Loyola and her great-uncle served as president. She brought her legal skills and experience in nonprofit management and alumni relations to her work in planned giving. She also became certified as a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) through the American College of Financial Services.

When Monique retired in February 2022, Marcelle C. Highstreet became the university’s next director of gift and estate planning. Like Bob and Monique, she brings a background in law in addition to experience in major, planned, and annual gifts. Marcelle is also a Loyola Law alumna, and she and her husband, David, are the parents of two Loyola alumnae.

Bob, Monique, and Marcelle have a great deal in common and at various times have worked together at Loyola. They share similar perspectives on philanthropy. Most important, each has witnessed the impact planned giving donors have on Loyola.

The Gift of a Loyola Education

Maedell Hoover Braud

Maedell Hoover Braud

Loyola is blessed to have many donors who support the university through planned gifts. However, one donor in particular has a connection to all three of Loyola’s most recent planned giving directors. They believe she embodies the collective spirit of Loyola’s donors.

Maedell Hoover Braud worked for Loyola from 1948 until her retirement in 1980 as an administrative assistant to the dean of arts and sciences. A firm believer in Jesuit education, Maedell was dedicated to Loyola. Her beloved husband, Sidney Braud, received an undergraduate and a law degree from Loyola.

She remained an engaged member of the Loyola community following her retirement. Marcelle met Maedell when she served on the Monroe Library Visiting Committee and was impressed with her continued service to the university. Through their work in planned giving, Bob and Monique got to know Maedell and fondly remember her. They also learned about her bequest to Loyola.

Through her generosity, forethought, and planning, Maedell made a lasting impact on Loyola. It was the desire of Maedell and Sidney, who preceded her in death, that Loyola be included in Maedell’s will. When she passed away in 2017, Maedell’s bequest created the Murphy-Braud Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides a perpetual source of funding for undergraduate and law scholarships.

Like so many alumni and friends who feel a vested interest in seeing the university continue its mission, Maedell provided for Loyola in her will, resulting in the gift of a Loyola education for generations of students to come. Her philanthropic spirit was only matched by her fun-loving personality and love of life, which endeared her to all who knew her. She is dearly missed; however, Maedell’s spirit lives on through the students who will benefit from her generosity and the example she has set for them. She truly lived the Loyola motto of being “men and women with and for others.”

Continuing the Legacy

All donors, regardless of the type of gift, support Loyola. However, due to the nature of many planned gifts, these donors often do not see the fruits of their generosity during their lifetimes. The very act of making a planned gift is an indication of the donor’s belief in the future of Loyola.

Marcelle looks forward to continuing her predecessors’ work and building upon their values of care, continuity, and commitment. More so, she is excited to serve this community and work with donors to build a vibrant future.

You can create a legacy of giving that ensures future generations of Loyola students achieve their educational goals. Contact Marcelle at 504-861-5442 or kmaney@loyno.edu to get started.

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Loyola University New Orleans a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to Loyola University New Orleans [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Loyola University New Orleans or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate, or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property, or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Loyola University New Orleans as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Loyola University New Orleans as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Loyola University New Orleans where you agree to make a gift to Loyola University New Orleans and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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