- Profile of Phillip Humphreys
- Plaudits
- Service Awards
- Colleague to Colleague: Caitlin Roberts reports on the rich history of Greek life at The Beach
- Spotlight on Beach Pride Center
- Unit Activities
- A CLASS Act
- Students Participate in Internships at The Washington Center
- Meet Erin Swetland
- Student Nuggets
- Alternative Spring Break 2009
- Facts About The Beach
- Target Case Study Competition Held
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What Kind of Legacy Will You Leave?
What do Alfred Nobel and CSULB have in common?
Nobel, best known as the benefactor of the Nobel Peace Prize and Nobel Laureate which bear his name, was a Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, armaments manufacturer and the inventor of dynamite. He owned a major armaments manufacturing company, which he redirected from its previous role as an iron and steel mill.
Unfortunately, the invention that Nobel thought would end all wars was viewed by many as a deadly weapon. In 1888, an erroneous and premature publication of Nobel’s obituary by a French newspaper, which harshly condemned him for the invention of dynamite, led to his determination to leave a better legacy after his death. The obituary stated, “Le marchand de la mort est mort” (“The merchant of death is dead”), and went on to say, “Dr. Alfred Nobel…became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before…”
In 1895, Nobel signed his last will and testament setting aside the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prizes, to be awarded annually without distinction of nationality. When he died of a stroke in 1896, he left 31 million kronor—equivalent to hundreds of millions in today’s dollars—to fund awards for work that benefits humanity in the fields of chemistry, physics, physiology or medicine, literature and peace.
Alfred Nobel had an “obituary opportunity,” sometimes referred to as an “epiphany” or a sudden intuitive understanding of the meaning of life, that gave him an opportunity to examine his life and a chance to change it. As a result, he invested his wealth in something of lasting value.
No less than Nobel, every person has the ability to reassess his or her own life and examine how time and money is being spent. How would someone write your obituary and describe the way your life has made a difference? Are there ways that your talents, time and treasures can be better used?
The planned giving staff at CSULB would be glad to assist you with a bequest—a gift made through your will or trust. Your generosity can have a meaningful impact on many future generations of students at The Beach. For example, your gift could continue a 30-plus year tradition of hosting a Nobel Laureate speaker at CSULB or it could provide an ongoing source of support for the department or program of your choice.
Like Alfred Nobel, you could make “dynamic” things happen with your legacy!
To make a bequest or donation to support a Student Services program, contact the Student Services Development Office at (562) 985-5255 or go to www.csulb.edu/plannedgiving.