Lori Kilburn ’86
In all aspects of her life, Lori Kilburn ’86 strives to be “clear and graceful” — a descriptor she remembers well from the instruction page in Mount Holyoke College’s blue exam books. That’s why the simplicity of a deferred gift annuity appealed to her as a way to give back to the College, receive tax benefits today and enjoy steady payments in the future.
Whether choosing a college or structuring her charitable gifts, Lori Kilburn ’86 prefers to keep things clear and simple.
In the spring of 1982, Lori was on a three-week trip in Greece with her high school when her father called her hotel in Sparta at 7 am. “He shared the schools where I got in and gave me fifteen minutes — until the end of the call — to decide,” Lori recalls. Based on a positive impression from an earlier campus visit, her choice came easily: Mount Holyoke.
Lori’s decisive action also proved helpful during her first week on campus. When a schedule mix-up led to the cancellation of an important Greek history class for her intended classics major, Lori accepted a generous offer by department chair Betty Nye Quinn ’41 for a private tutorial. “That situation absolutely encapsulates Mount Holyoke,” says Lori. “It also meant I couldn’t hide behind other people.”
Mount Holyoke’s academic rigor challenged Lori’s tendency to procrastinate, but she is grateful that much was demanded of her and her classmates. She learned to balance hard work with fun, hosting popular gatherings at Wilder Hall with her fellow social chairs. These events served as “our answer to Smith College’s Friday afternoon teas.”
The critical thinking and sharp writing skills Lori honed at Mount Holyoke launched her career as a corporate editor, which included a long tenure with American Express’s business travel division. A prompt from the blue exam books of her student days — that arguments must be expressed in “clear and graceful English” — set her lifelong standard.
When Lori and her spouse updated their estate plans, Lori likewise sought clear and graceful ways to support her alma mater. “I had always planned to do something for Mount Holyoke in my will, but I also wanted to make an impact in the shorter term,” she explains.
A conversation with the College’s gift planning team introduced Lori to charitable gift annuities. Lori opted for a deferred annuity, securing immediate tax savings while locking in higher payments that she’ll receive in the future. “I liked the idea that these funds could be in Mount Holyoke’s bucket to leverage now, and the process to set up the annuity could not have been easier,” Lori says. “Mount Holyoke prepared the illustration, I signed the forms online and the funds were transferred in just a few minutes.”
In her free time, Lori enjoys sailing, skiing and traveling. She frequently returns to Mount Holyoke for Reunions to rekindle decades-long friendships.
Beyond nostalgia, Lori’s giving is fueled by deep confidence in Mount Holyoke’s enduring mission. She appreciates that the College continues to graduate young people who are ready to lead. “The world keeps proving to us that there is an absolute need for women’s educational spaces,” she says, noting that society could use a bit of Mount Holyoke’s magic.
With support from individuals like her, Lori is sure that Mount Holyoke and its alums will continue to, quite simply, “rule the world.”