Robert Martinelli wanted to honor the memory of his late wife, Eloise, in a way that would inspire others and leave a legacy. An outstanding philanthropist himself, Mr. Martinelli knew that Eloise was a loyal donor of Longwood and held her alma mater (she was a class of 1951 graduate) in high esteem. He thought the best way to remember his wife was to establish the Eloise Hodges Martinelli Scholarship in 1999. Through a charitable remainder trust, Mr. Martinelli will add significantly to the fund after his lifetime, while receiving an income for the rest of his life.

A great believer in giving back and in education, Mr. Martinelli has visited Longwood since establishing the scholarship, even involving his daughters and encouraging them to get to know the University. By beginning to fund the scholarship now, Mr. Martinelli has been able to see the impact immediately. The Martinelli Scholarship has benefited students such as Kathryn King, an English major from Rawlings, Va., and Silvije “Sly” Barisic, a 2002 College of Business graduate who is currently working as a business analyst at Capital One in Richmond. There is no question that the scholarship will continue to make a difference in the lives of Longwood students for many years to come.

In addition to honoring Eloise through the scholarship fund, Mr. Martinelli has generously supported special Longwood projects such as the LCVA Building Renovation Fund, the Brock Commons Celebration and the College of Education NCATE Celebration—sharing Eloise’s dedication to Longwood and its success.

If you would like more information on the impact you can make through a charitable remainder trust, please contact H. Franklin Grant, Director of Planned and Major Gifts, at (800) 281-4677, Ext. 3, or e-mail him at granthf@longwood.edu. You are under no obligation and we would be happy to discuss your options with you.