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PLanned Giving webpage banner image.REV2
Support
Planned Giving
Planned gifts can provide long-lasting support for our organization while enjoying financial benefits for yourself.
Planned gifts at Severn School play a crucial role in ensuring the school’s long-term success and sustainability. All planned gifts, regardless of size, help secure a brighter future for the Severn School community. These contributions are directed towards the school’s general endowment fund. Donors can further align a planned gift by designating it towards a specific area of Severn’s endowed funds, such as: Financial Aid, Faculty Professional Development, Student Programs, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Let your “why” create a legacy and a testament to all that Severn School has given you and be part of all that Severn will be in the future!
Let’s talk about how a planned gift to Severn School can fit into your financial plan and charitable giving goals.
WHAT TO GIVE
Please contact us for more information.
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Bruce C Burns 2 04-15-2026
Q&A INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE C. BURNS '61
Q: Can you tell us a little about your time at Severn School?
A: I grew up in Glen Burnie, and at the time it was a very rural place. When I told my friends I was going to school ten miles away, they thought it was strange. I didn’t want to leave my neighborhood friends, but once I arrived at Severn, I found a nurturing community where everybody paid attention and the faculty truly cared about us. I worked as a waiter in the dining hall to help supplement my tuition, and I loved it because it let me interact with teammates and friends across grades.
Q: How did Severn shape your life and career?
A: Severn taught me how to be an adult. I learned discipline, respect, and how to carry myself. I had to address people with “yes or no, Sir,” and that mattered to me. The school didn’t have fancy facilities back then, but it had dedicated teachers and coaches who pushed us forward. Looking back, I consider Severn responsible for whatever success I have because of the people who invested in me when the school itself had very little.
Q: What inspired you to make a planned gift for Severn?
A: Severn has been a part of my life, my boys’ lives, and now my grandchildren’s lives. Barbara and I always wanted our kids to walk to school and have the same experience I had. Supporting Severn feels like supporting our family legacy. If I’m able to give something back, even if it’s not a lot, it feels right because Severn has given us so much.
Q: Why did you choose to give through a life insurance policy and your Will?
A: It’s a way to do my part for the next generation. I’ve given through my will and through an insurance policy, and I’ve made other contributions over the years. These gifts go directly to Severn’s endowment, which ensures the school will be here in perpetuity and able to support students who need financial help.
Q: What do you hope your planned gift will accomplish?
A: Financial aid is important to me. When people ask where to direct their support, I tell them I hope it goes to financial aid. I want kids from anywhere, who need help, to have the same chance as I did.
Q: As a financial professional, what advice would you give other alumni considering planned gifts?
A: Think about the legacy you want to leave. Planned giving isn’t just for the wealthy. Tools like life insurance or bequests can make a big difference and allow you to support the school without affecting your day‑to‑day finances.
Q: Your grandson is graduating from Severn this year. What does that mean to you?
A: It means everything. I never imagined, when I was a kid from Glen Burnie with thick glasses trying to play football, that Severn would become such a central part of my family’s life. I’ve had children and grandchildren come through Severn, and seeing another generation walk the same campus is incredibly meaningful. It’s a legacy I’m proud of.
SEVERN 1914 SOCIETY
The Severn 1914 Society recognizes those who have notified us that they have included Severn School in their estate plans. Making a deferred gift to Severn ensures that Severn will continue to educate our youth for generations to come. Thank you!
Have you included Severn in your Will, Trust, or Estate plans?
*By filling out this confidential form, donors can remain anonymous but can choose how to connect to our current Severn community.
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1914 Website Image
Friends:
Anonymous (7)
Capt. Robert N. Adrian Sr., USN (Ret)
Mr. & Mrs. Donald B. Allen
Steve & Sandy Ayers
Mrs. Betty C. Bannat
George Benson
Patricia R. Benson
Mr. John S. Bremer & Mrs. Gayle A. Bremer
Mr. J. Mayo Brown
Mr. Hammond S. Carr
Mr. Michael A. Cauley & Mrs. Beverly R. Cauley
Mrs. Barbara Cromwell
Mr. & Mrs. James W. Donnelly
Ms. Mary C. Egan
Charles J. & Dianne W. Feldman
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas H. Lagarde
Mrs. Jennifer L. Mann & Christopher Mann
Mr. E. Thomas Massey
Mr. Christopher R. McCleary
James and Wendy McIntyre
Mrs. Patricia S. McManus
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Raab in honor
of Lane Raab '68
Mary Kernan Salsich
Dr. Jay J. Stewart
Adger & Sandra Stokes
Mrs. Sophia Stone
Mrs. Anne Reeder Teel
Dr. Lesley A. Ward
The Whiteside Family
1924
Edward A Hannegan
1925
Mr. Robert Wigginton McCormick
1930
Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Scott Old
1935
BG James H. Keller, USA(Ret) '35
1936
CDR Edwin Malloy, Jr., USN (Ret)
1937
Mr. John Drew Betz '37
1938
Dr. Walter S. DeLany, Jr.
Mr. Harold A. Fisher
Mr. & Mrs. L. Warren Klauer
1947
CDR Frank A. Munroe, USN (Ret)
1949
Mr. Harold E. Slanker & Mrs. Betsey Slanker
Mr. George T. Cromwell, Jr.
Mr. Harold L. Walters, Jr.
1950
RADM Ted Walker, Jr.
LTC Jesse E. Blackwell, USA(Ret)
1951
Mr. Stephens F. Millard
1952
Mr. Nicholas Goldsborough
Anne & Jim Hogg
Mr. Thomas Jerrell "Jerry" Carter Jr.
1954
Mr. Anthony J. Schmidt Jr.
1955
Otis C. Gregg, Jr.
1956
Glendon and Palmer Jones
1960
Mr. Francis D. Wright III
1961
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce C. Burns
Mr. Robert E. Blaney
1962
John B. Hudson, Jr.
Paull H. Phillips
Francis E. Wilson, Jr.
1963
Mr. William A. Winston
Mr. John K. Hopkins
Mr. H. Craig Hubbard
1965
Edwin M. "Ned" Kesmodel & Matthew Gaffney
Judge Richard D. Bennett
1966
H. W. "Budd" Hickey
Craig C. Georgi
1967
CSM William P. Zimmerman IV, (Ret)
1968
Ray MacKown
1969
David Wright & Laury Bershad
1974
Wilson H. Phipps
Liz Mann Carlin
1975
Betty Waters Phipps
1977
Mr. Peter A.S. Pfeiffer
1978
Hon. Steven R. Schuh
1980
Lorraine D. Johnson
1982
Darren Burns
1981
Caroline Benson Tringali
1983
Mrs. Cristina Decker & Mr. Craig Decker
Ms. Alison Mylander Gregory
Ms. Wendy Jones
Mr. Stephen C. Rabbitt
1984
Mr. Michael K. DeStefano & Ms. Amalia A. Driver
1985
Ms. Jessica Hay McCarthy
Mr. Thomas L. Carter III & Mrs. Jennifer L. Carter
1987
Tara Frame Wicker & Richard Wicker
1988
Drew Burns
1990
Amy Stehl Bauer
1991
Andrew Bauer
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Our Official Name:
Severn School Inc.
Our Address:
201 Water St. Severna Park, MD 21146
Our Organization is:
Registered as a charitable organization in the State of Maryland
Our IRS Status:
501c(3) non-profit organization
Our Federal Tax ID (EIN):
52-0591466
Our Tax Status:
Gifts and bequests are deductible from income tax and estate tax to the full extent of the law.
CONTACT US
This site is informational and educational in nature. It is not offering professional tax, legal, or accounting advice. For specific advice about the effect of any planning concept on your tax or financial situation or with your estate, please consult a qualified professional advisor.
