LOCAL COUPLE GIVES BACK

Growing up in Shippensburg, John and Sandy Gates developed what became a lifelong affinity for Shippensburg University. The bond grew stronger over the years as they got to know faculty and students who came into the family's store on East King Street.

Now the Gates have formed another relationship with the university, making a gift through their estate plans to Shippensburg University Foundation's Charting the Course, Lighting the Way: The Campaign for Shippensburg University.

Their planned gift is unrestricted, enabling the university to apply the gift to areas it deems the most beneficial. "We thought they would be better off utilizing the funds as they saw fit," John said of the university and the Shippensburg University Foundation. Both John and Sandy said they felt an obligation to give something back to the university from which they benefited over the years. Galen Gates and Son, a men's clothing store in downtown Shippensburg, was started by John's grandfather in 1896 and later operated by his father before he took over in the 1950s. John owned the store until its closing in 1990.

"We had so many students over the years who were part-time employees. They were wonderful guys," John remarked.

"The cream of the crop," Sandy agreed.

The couple serves on the Campaign Steering Committee. They hope their gift will spur others to think about including the Shippensburg University Foundation in their own estate plans. "Shippensburg is just a great school," Sandy said. "We want to encourage other people to give as well."