11/18/21

HAYS, Kan. – Among the many fans of Fort Hays State University, Jim and Sherry Dibble of Hays are two of the most loyal supporters. Both FHSU alumni, the Dibbles can be found cheering at any number of athletic events throughout the year or attending one of the Encore Series performances or Department of Music and Theater productions.

However, these two spirited fans, who met during their time on campus, go beyond just attending events. They have generously supported Fort Hays State for 40 consecutive years.

They are Encore Series program sponsors, long-time members of Tiger Club and of the most elite group of donors to the athletic department, the FHSU Athletic Difference Makers. Recently, they decided to take their philanthropy one step further. The Dibbles are 1972 and 1973 graduates of FHSU who have taken advantage of the Charitable IRA Rollover and designated the funds to go to a series of scholarships for Fort Hays State students.

“We believe that without the education that we got from Fort Hays State, we wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing today,” Jim said.

When the Dibbles discovered the Charitable IRA Rollover, they found it to be a perfect match for their needs, saying, “After learning more about the Charitable IRA Rollover and how easy it was, we’ve decided to give a percentage of our estate to FHSU now so we can see the impact of our gifts throughout campus and enjoy meeting some of our scholarship recipients while we’re still living.”

Donors at least 70.5 years old can use their IRA rollover to support FHSU with a gift up to $100,000. It’s easy, 100% tax free, and can reduce the amount of their taxable income.

One of the Dibbles’ favorite parts about the IRA rollover gift is that it allowed them to choose specific areas of campus that they wanted to support. The Dibble family had the opportunity to choose not only what kind of scholarships they wanted to create, but also who would be eligible to receive them.

The Dibbles established scholarships that will support the reading department in honor of Sherry’s mother, who earned two degrees in elementary education from FHSU; to the music department because of their enjoyment of music; to the nursing department because their daughter and daughter-in-law are nurses; one in business and finance, from where Jim received his degree at FHSU and in honor of their son, a financial advisor, who assisted with the IRA rollover process; and one to the agriculture department since Jim grew up on a farm with a strong appreciation and love for agriculture, as well as his 41.5 year career at Farm Credit.  

Most people want to leave this Earth having made a positive and lasting impact. Members of the Fort Hays State Tiger family have the unique opportunity to lower their taxes while creating a legacy at FHSU through the Charitable IRA Rollover. A gift of this kind may qualify as a required minimum distribution, permitting a reduction on income and taxes for this year.

The Dibbles are making an incredible – and visible – impact on FHSU students who rely on scholarships to complete their education

“It's good to give while you can see the results,” Jim said, “and the Charitable IRA Rollover is a great benefit that people need to take advantage of. It’s a win-win situation.”

To learn more about the Charitable IRA Rollover, contact Darci Cain with the FHSU Foundation at 785-628-5719 or dacain@fhsu.edu. You can also visit www.fhsulegacy.com.