Planned Giving Donor Profile
Carmel Parents Charles and Teresa Bartels
Bartels Gift a Symbol of Their Confidence in Carmel
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Chuck and Teresa Bartels have called Carmel Catholic High School “home” for more than 20 years while their five sons, Matt ’88, Chris ’89, John ’92, Pat ’03 and Peter ’06, attended the school and experienced the “Carmel Difference” firsthand.
“We have been blessed,” Chuck reflects. “We have been part of a community in which our children and we have both benefited. So many of our friends are people we have met through Carmel.”
Chuck and Teresa initially sent their children to Carmel because they heard about Carmel’s excellent reputation as a Catholic, values-based school that was also a top-notch college preparatory institution. And, their relationship with Carmel has evolved into much more. In fact, Chuck and Teresa have been involved with the school as volunteers in Street Scenes, various capital campaigns, and development activities, and have held positions on the Carmel Board of Directors and its various committees.
The Bartels have been consistent contributors to Carmel through their yearly contributions to the school’s Annual Fund. They participated in the Carmel 2000 Capital Campaign and the Carmel at the Crossroads Capital Campaign. In addition, they decided to create a planned gift through their estate to ensure Carmel’s continued excellence for their grandchildren, the first of whom will be a freshman in 2011, and for future generations of Carmel students.
“Carmel helps us to build a better community, and we are committed to doing our part to make the school available to as many students as possible. The Carmel faculty prepares their students for life. Carmel graduates simply help us to build a better future—they are good and responsible citizens who enrich the fabric of our community,” Chuck says.
When Chuck and Teresa started to create their estate plans, they had to assess what was of importance to them. They followed a process that helped them to evaluate their personal values, family and charitable priorities, and their financial situation. “It was hard work but it was a healthy exercise to engage our family members in end of life conversations. Our children know our wishes,” Chuck says and Teresa agrees.
“If Carmel was important to you during your lifetime, estate planning enables you to continue to support the school and its mission. Now that we have completed our plan, we have the satisfaction of knowing we are taking care of what is important to us,” Teresa explains.
“Our kids had a sense of belonging and connectedness to Carmel, and that feeling continues to this day. Each of our sons had a special relationship with their friends and their teachers,” Chuck said.
“Carmel allowed them to freely pursue their own interests and become themselves,” Teresa explains. “Many of their closest friends continue to be friends from Carmel; they stay in touch,” she adds.
Teresa and Chuck attribute part of their children’s success as adults to Catholic education and their Carmel experience. Catholic education, its values and principles, is an extension of what they try to teach their children at home—respect for self and others, service for others with a faith-based purpose in their lives.
For additional information, please contact Michael C. Looby '75, Gift Planning Director at 847-388-3338.
