Donor Stories
Wiederspans Share Cultural Experiences with Gift to Endowment
When I asked John and
Nancy Wiederspan
why they recently
made a planned gift to the
Nebraska Cultural Endowment,
John answered quickly. "Two
words, 'Endow Nebraska,'" he
said, referring to the new and
historic state income-tax credit
for such gifts.
Even though they view
the subject from different
perspectives, they speak with
one voice when talking about
the importance of the arts and
humanities in their lives.
Nancy grew up in Lincoln,
where her mother took her to
cultural events. She attended UNL, graduating with a degree in English. Today,
Nancy is the vice president of
industry relations for National
Student Clearinghouse.
"Unlike John, I was exposed
to the arts when I was young.
I learned early on that the arts
are an important part of who
we are."
John nodded. "Growing
up in St. Paul, Nebraska, in
the mid '60s, we didn't have
many cultural opportunities.
Now, with the Nebraska
Arts Council (NAC) and
the Nebraska Humanities
Council (NHC), we have
cultural events in communities
throughout the state. I would
have loved to have had those
opportunities as a youngster."
John also graduated from UNL,
majoring in philosophy, and
later received an M.S. and an
M.B.A. A retired economics
instructor, John has served on
a number of arts organization
boards in Nebraska.
I asked why they chose the
Endowment. John responded: "Because the Endowment allows us to support both the
NHC and the NAC and take
advantage of the state match
that our gift makes possible.
The NHC and the NAC
provide programming and
support across the state. That
is important to me."
"I have a more general
interest in making this gift to
the Endowment," Nancy said. "Oftentimes, I think we lose
sight of the importance of
the arts and humanities in
our lives—especially in the
business world. A cultural
experience takes you out
of the moment. It changes the emotional tenor of
perspective."
John nodded in agreement, "It is a transcendent
experience."
"When John and I see
a work of art or listen to
music that excites us, we
want to share it—we would
like someone else to see it,
to experience it. And the
Endowment provides us with
that opportunity."
Story by Pamela Hilton Snow
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