Do You Need Anything?

Back in August, Ruth and I discussed a plan to establish a scholarship fund with a portion of our annual required minimum distribution funds.  Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are amounts that U.S. tax law requires one to withdraw annually from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans.  Ruth and I began the process of withdrawing money when we turned seventy.  We planned to contribute to a scholarship fund over our remaining years.  We decided to call it The Tebo Family Scholarship.

We discussed the focus of the scholarship, and after exploring several options, we decided we’d dedicate our initial efforts to support students from the Addison Community Schools.  I had worked fifteen years for the district, each of our three children spent their entire public-school career there, and Ruth and I lived within the district for forty-three years. Addison was an appropriate spot to begin our efforts.

Ruth died before we took the opportunity to implement our plan.  That role now falls on me.  I met with school officials and representatives of the Lenawee Community Foundation this week, and our plan is operational.  The initial disbursement of our RMDs has taken place.

About 35 years ago, one of my Addison teachers, Diane, was in a terrible car accident. She almost lost her life, had a broken neck, was in the hospital for an extended period, and when she was released, she was in a halo brace attached to her head for several months.

Diane’s husband, Buck, received daily inquiries about Diane and her condition.  Several people asked, “Do you need anything?”  At first Buck just said “no” but after considering his options he offered up a request for help.  “Whenever anyone calls and asks what I need, I tell them “A blueberry pie”.

When Buck shared the story with me, he had about twenty-five pies in the freezer.

David, Elizabeth, Michael, and I have received an outpouring of support since Ruth’s passing.  Everyone who knew her, loved her.  She had the ability to make everyone she met feel welcome.  Ruth overpowered everyone with her zest of life and her unwavering support of her family.  She’d do anything for everyone.

The four of us don’t need blueberry pies, but we welcome your support of The Tebo Family Scholarship.  The kids will be hesitant to make such an ask, but I’m not.  Donations to support our efforts should be sent to the Lenawee Community Foundation 1440 W. Maumee St.  Adrian, Michigan. You can write The Tebo Family Scholarship on the memo line. All proceeds will be used for student scholarships beginning with the class of 2023.

We’ve planned a Celebration of Life for Ruth.  There will be an open house at Silo Oaks in Sumpterville, Florida on Tuesday, December 6 from 11:00 – 2:00.  The actual celebration will begin at 11:30. There will be a Michigan celebration in mid-June. I’ll share the details when we’ve finalized plans. The kids and I will attend both.

If you share this blog with others, it will help share the news.

If you’re old like me, you can use a portion of your RMDs to make your contribution to the scholarship fund.