Sue Gruber’s ties to Glenmary date back to her youth. She remembers touring Glenmary headquarters in the Cincinnati suburb of Glendale in the 1950s as a member of Theta Phi Alpha, a national women’s social fraternity that supports Glenmary as one of its two national philanthropic causes. And, as a native Cincinnatian she remembers helping support the local thrift shop the Glenmary Sisters once ran.

“I’ve always been impressed with the work that Glenmary does, especially the fact that the missioners serve the needs here in the United States,” she says. “And now, my husband, John, and I are happy to be in a position to financially help advance that work.”

That’s not always been the case, she says. The parents of five children, there were times in their married life, she recalls, when “we didn’t have a lot of extra money to give, but we gave what we could and always offered our prayers for the work of the missioners.”

“We admire the way the Glenmary missioners enter a new place and work with the people,” she says. “They don’t try to change people, they build on what they find.”

It was after the Grubers’ son, Don, visited the Glenmary Farm that they became regular donors. “He just loved his time there,” she says.

After their children completed college the Grubers were able to investigate different ways to help Glenmary financially through outright gifts and planned gifts.

The Grubers support other charitable organizations, but Glenmary holds a special place for Sue. She and John are frequent visitors to Glenmary headquarters, attending the daily noon Mass that is open to the public at Our Lady of the Fields Chapel.

They even celebrated their 50th anniversary at the noon Mass with Glenmary president Father Dan Dorsey presiding. The celebration continued with lunch at the Glenmary residence.

Keeping up-to-date on the news of Glenmary’s work is key to the Grubers’ involvement as donors. “I think if people would have the opportunity to visit Glenmary or to read about the work the missioners do in Glenmary Challenge magazine, they would see for themselves the amazing work these missioners do,” she says.

And, she continues, donors should not doubt that the money they give is used wisely. “I can see the money is used for worthwhile things when I read about all that is happening in the home missions.”

“I look forward to reading Glenmary Challenge,” she says, because it keeps her involved with the work. “The stories are wonderful as is the magazine’s presentation.”

That work is why Sue and John have made several different types of planned gifts to Glenmary, including making Glenmary the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Sue speaks highly of those she has worked with in Glenmary’s planned giving department as well as of Father Dominic Duggins, director of Glenmary’s development office. “They are so personable and easy to work with,” she says.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of Glenmary’s work, which I so admire,” Sue says. “I feel as if, in some small way as donors, John and I are part of the wonderful things happening in the home missions.”

Read more mission partner stories