DANA DONOR PROFILE

Giving Because She Can

To Genevieve Jensen, giving is a way of life. It isn’t something special she does. It is just something she does.

“I have more than I need. As long as the Lord was good to me, I’d feel guilty not sharing,” she said.

And share she has. Although she only attended Dana for one year, she has always held the college near and dear to her heart. “It’s been a part of my life for all of my life,” said the Blair native, who now lives in Plainview, Neb. She attended Dana in 1938-39, working in the Registrar’s Office and for Dana President Lawrence Siersbeck to help pay for her tuition.

The following year, Genevieve had such a good job at the Danish Publishing House, she didn’t return to school. “When I think back now, if I’d been smart I would have attended longer and studied to be a parish secretary,” she said. Now retired, Genevieve did work for many years as a secretary, even without that degree.

Her experience at Dana is something that Genevieve has carried with her for her entire life. “I believe in Dana,” she said. “It’s a great school with excellent teachers. I’m proud to be connected with Dana and I hope to be for a long time.”

Genevieve is both an annual giver and a Dana Builder, having first included Dana College in her estate plan approximately 15 years ago. She established a charitable remainder trust through the ELCA Foundation and has several charitable gift annuity agreements from which Dana will benefit.

“My husband (Donald) knew how much Dana meant to me,” she said. “He said, ‘Why don’t we set up a scholarship?’ ” In 1980 she established the Plainview Dana Scholarship, which is given to a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Plainview, Neb. Genevieve gives annually to support this scholarship.

“I want anybody who goes to college to consider Dana,” she said. Genevieve works with her pastor at Our Saviour’s to identify the youth at her church who are considering college and tells them about Dana. “It’s something I believe in 100 percent.”

Dana College is not the only Christian charity that benefits from Genevieve’s generosity. She also supports Martin Luther Home, Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, Good Shepherd Home in Blair, Oaks Indian Mission in Oklahoma and her church, among others.

“Genevieve is a gem. She lives her life in service to God and others. I know of no one who is a better model of Christian stewardship,” said Dr. Myrvin Christopherson, president of Dana College.

“If you want to tithe for your church and charities of your church, it can be done,” Genevieve said.