The Forum Winter 2013 : Page 5

Leaving a Legacy The Sorensen dynasty: Giving with no restrictions By Jane A. Hamblin Linda Markins was elected to Mortar Board at Purdue University in 1962. She didn’t imagine at the time that some 50 years later she would head a Mortar Board dynasty… that her SON (remember, Mortar Board for men didn’t happen until 1975) Scott would become a Mortar Board … that her daughter Anne would become a Mortar Board … and even her college sweetheart Bob Sorensen would eventually become a Mortar Board, too. Linda and Bob Sorensen have been active in the life of Mortar Board both nationally and locally in Greater Lafayette, Ind. and Purdue University for decades. Their gifts of time and talent have always been without restriction. Each of them has spent countless hours advising the Barbara Cook chapter at Purdue and contributing to our Society’s national advising task force. Linda is president of the Greater Lafayette Alumni chapter, which requires constant attention to program needs and address updates. Bob served a term as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Mortar Board National Foundation (MBNF) and is chair of our Society’s Linda and Bob Sorensen with their children Scott Sorensen and Anne Consolidated Finance Task Force (which means an eight-hour, same-day, Sorensen Inman round-trip drive to the Mortar Board National Office at least twice a year) and the MBNF’s Investment Advisory Committee, which meets quarterly by conference call. The Sorensens are both Charter Members of the Mortar Board Alumni Association and attended the Alumni Mini-Conference and Candlelight Banquet in Chicago last July. The Sorensens’ unrestricted donations of effort and expertise have led them to make an unrestricted donation of another kind: $25,000 to establish the Sorensen Family Endowment Fund, the first unrestricted endowment of the MBNF. Why? “It’s simple,” says Bob (sitting in their cozy kitchen across the street from the Purdue stadium where grandkids pop in for grandma’s breakfast treats), “Mortar Board needs to have access to money that can be used for any purpose its leaders see fit.” Linda (mixing a delicious fruit salad for the Homecoming tailgate) adds, “We’d like to pave the way for others to start unrestricted funds that can be used for programming to benefit many, not just a few, Mortar Board members.” “We’ve been involved in volunteer work for a long time, and we know that giving our time is valuable, but it doesn’t actually pay for that speaker you need at conference or those programming tools for advisors,” says Bob. “We want our fund to be used now and in perpetuity for whatever Mortar Board needs. We really understand the meaning of “unrestricted” and know that the earnings from our fund will be spent wisely!” Through their dynasty, the Sorensens have passed the highest regard for volunteer service and for Mortar Board on to Scott (Purdue, 1987) and his spouse, Suellen Jacko Sorensen (Butler University, 1989), Anne Sorensen Inman (Purdue, 1989) and their families. By the time the Sorensens’ six grandchildren attend college, the Sorensen Family Endowment will have helped support our Society in whatever way the MBNF sees fit. Linda and Bob’s gift, like their love for Mortar Board, truly has no restrictions! Thinking about a gift to Mortar Board? Please contact Laura Bockbrader in the National Office 800-989-6266 or lbockbrader@mortarboard.org. Mortar Board Forum | Winter 2013 5

Leaving A Legacy

Jane A. Hamblin

The Sorensen dynasty: Giving with no restrictions Linda Markins was elected to Mortar Board at Purdue University in 1962. She didn’t imagine at the time that some 50 years later she would head a Mortar Board dynasty… that her SON (remember, Mortar Board for men didn’t happen until 1975) Scott would become a Mortar Board … that her daughter Anne would become a Mortar Board … and even her college sweetheart Bob Sorensen would eventually become a Mortar Board, too. Linda and Bob Sorensen have been active in the life of Mortar Board both nationally and locally in Greater Lafayette, Ind. And Purdue University for decades. Their gifts of time and talent have always been without restriction. Each of them has spent countless hours advising the Barbara Cook chapter at Purdue and contributing to our Society’s national advising task force. Linda is president of the Greater Lafayette Alumni chapter, which requires constant attention to program needs and address updates. Bob served a term as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Mortar Board National Foundation (MBNF) and is chair of our Society’s Consolidated Finance Task Force (which means an eight-hour, same-day, round-trip drive to the Mortar Board National Office at least twice a year) and the MBNF’s Investment Advisory Committee, which meets quarterly by conference call. The Sorensens are both Charter Members of the Mortar Board Alumni Association and attended the Alumni Mini-Conference and Candlelight Banquet in Chicago last July. The Sorensens’ unrestricted donations of effort and expertise have led them to make an unrestricted donation of another kind: $25,000 to establish the Sorensen Family Endowment Fund, the first unrestricted endowment of the MBNF. Why? “It’s simple,” says Bob (sitting in their cozy kitchen across the street from the Purdue stadium where grandkids pop in for grandma’s breakfast treats), “Mortar Board needs to have access to money that can be used for any purpose its leaders see fit.” Linda (mixing a delicious fruit salad for the Homecoming tailgate) adds, “We’d like to pave the way for others to start unrestricted funds that can be used for programming to benefit many, not just a few, Mortar Board members.” “We’ve been involved in volunteer work for a long time, and we know that giving our time is valuable, but it doesn’t actually pay for that speaker you need at conference or those programming tools for advisors,” says Bob. “We want our fund to be used now and in perpetuity for whatever Mortar Board needs. We really understand the meaning of “unrestricted” and know that the earnings from our fund will be spent wisely!” Through their dynasty, the Sorensens have passed the highest regard for volunteer service and for Mortar Board on to Scott (Purdue, 1987) and his spouse, Suellen Jacko Sorensen (Butler University, 1989), Anne Sorensen Inman (Purdue, 1989) and their families. By the time the Sorensens’ six grandchildren attend college, the Sorensen Family Endowment will have helped support our Society in whatever way the MBNF sees fit. Linda and Bob’s gift, like their love for Mortar Board, truly has no restrictions! Thinking about a gift to Mortar Board? Please contact Laura Bockbrader in the National Office 800-989-6266 or lbockbrader@mortarboard.org.

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