Profiles in Philanthropy

Phi Kappa Phi Forum, Winter 2006 by Snyder, Perry A

An Interview with Vicki L. and L.D. Bond

In this Profile in Philanthropy, Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and conveys appreciation to Vicki L. Bond and her husband, L.D. The Bonds have included the Phi Kappa Phi Foundation, Inc. in their estate plan. Mrs. Bond is retired from two careers. The first was with Boeing; the second was that of a junior high school teacher. L.D. Bond is retired from Boeing.

Like William J. Wolfe, who was profiled in the Fall 2005 issue, the Bonds have designated their planned gift to the Fellowship Program. This interview with Mrs. Bond was conducted by Phi Kappa Phi's executive director, Dr. Perry A. Snyder.

PAS: Where and when were you initiated into Phi Kappa Phi?

VLB: Wichita State University in March 2002. I was a nontraditional student working on my master's degree.

PAS: What was special about the initiation that March evening at Wichita State?

VLB: My most vivid memory was the solemnity and formality of the ceremony. Though there were hundreds in attendance, every initiate felt a gratifying sense of personal recognition. I sensed that it would be a memorable occasion because I had received earlier a personal congratulatory letter from the dean of the graduate school, Dr. Susan Kovar. It was most gratifying to me and others that all the deans and other university leaders were present and participated in the ceremony.

PAS: What did the honor mean to you then?

VLB: My first thought was: This is wonderful! But then I feared there must be some mistake for I was not a traditional student . . . was I really eligible? Feeling uncertain, I called the Society Headquarters to learn more about Phi Kappa Phi. I talked with Kathy Marcel, whom I learned later was the chapter relations director. She answered my every question, assuring me that Phi Kappa Phi is all-discipline and that I was in fact eligible. Reflecting on the initiation, I remember feeling as honored and as welcomed as any of the twenty- and twenty-one-year olds.

PAS: Why did you choose to designate your planned gift to Phi Kappa Phi's Fellowship program?

VLB: It is important and relevant to promote the love of learning, the hunger for knowledge. It is important to encourage the idea that education is essential and valuable. And what better way to do so than to provide funds for the very best and brightest to continue their educations in graduate and professional schools? Because my special interests are music and the humanities, and L.D.'s are in math and information technology, we have directed that our planned gift help students pursuing advanced degrees in those fields.

PAS: How does it make you feel knowing that your memory will live on in perpetuity as a result of your gift?

VLB: Very humbled knowing that we shall live on throughout eternity through a Fellowship bearing our names, knowing that long after we are gone, we shall be helping people realize their educational and career dreams. We appreciate the opportunities that can be found through Phi Kappa Phi.

PAS: If a Phi Kappa Phi member were to call you tomorrow to ask about your making a leadership gift to Phi Kappa Phi, what would your response be?

VLB: We both would encourage any member of Phi Kappa Phi, or anyone else for that matter, to consider a planned gift because of the values that Phi Kappa Phi promotes . . . because of its noble mission.

PAS: Any comments on the process, that is, the information you received from Society Headquarters and the like?

VLB: After our first visit there, we received very helpful information about Phi Kappa Phi and planned giving. The information was very well thought out and well communicated. We found exactly what we needed to "get the wheels turning" for a gift.

PAS: Any closing thoughts?

VLB: L.D. and I were honored to he invited to the National Convention in Albuquerque and would like everyone to know how appreciative we are for the opportunity to learn more about Phi Kappa Phi. We met really great people there, especially chapter officers who are the heart and soul of Phi Kappa Phi. It was truly a worthwhile experience. For us, the highlight of the meeting was receiving, along with others, the Marcus Urann Award. How fitting it is that Phi Kappa Phi's board chose to honor its founder with an award for those who provide for the Society's future through various types of planned gifts.