Deep Ties Lead to Smart Giving—and Ongoing Support

Back Row: Robert Watkins, Robbie Watkins
Next row: Van Stiefel '84, Sam Stiefel, Caroline Lathan-Stiefel '85, Millie Lathan '59, Bonnie Watkins, Stewart Lathan '88, Niki Lathan, Eli Lathan, Rob Lathan '94
First Row: Charlotte Stiefel, Bob Lathan, Gray Mollenkamp, Louise Lathan '28

Millie Hudson Lathan '59 and her family have a connection to Westminster that dates back more than six decades, to the School's first years. As a member of one of the earliest graduating classes, Millie views herself and her classmates as part of the foundation of the School. When she and her siblings, Kathleen Hudson Rivers '64 and Paul Hudson '67, were students at Westminster, their father attended every football game and served as the team doctor. That kind of hands-on commitment to Westminster set an example that Millie has carried with her-and passed along to further generations of Wildcats-through decades of involvement with and giving to the School.

After graduating from Wellesley College and Harvard University, Millie returned to Westminster to teach in the Lower School for a time. Once she and her husband, Bob, started a family, they sent their three children to Westminster-Caroline Lathan-Stiefel '85, Stewart Lathan '88, and Rob Lathan '94. Millie has seen the School from almost all sides: as a student, a teacher, a parent, an alumni volunteer, and now a grandparent of a Middle School student.

"I give to Westminster for all that Westminster has given me," Millie says. "Real-life connections between real people and real events are what it's all about."

Some of Millie's most memorable experiences of Westminster came from the School's Mardi Gras celebrations when she was a student, when the girls' classes would build floats and plan performances. Her daughters also got to participate in Mardi Gras when they were in high school. Today, the School no longer has Mardi Gras, but Millie can still see a direct line from what she and her daughters experienced and what her granddaughter is learning at Westminster now.

"I was so excited when I went to see my granddaughter's work from the Roberto C. Goizueta Innovation Lab in the Middle School [on Grandparents and Special Friends Day]. They have someone to help them learn how to make things there, which is what we needed to build our Mardi Gras floats," Millie says. "We all had the imagination, we just had no idea how to do it. The magic happens when imagination and skill come together. My granddaughter was so proud of what she built."

As a member of her class's reunion committee, Millie helped establish the Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund during her 50th reunion year. At their 60th reunion, she led the charge to ensure that her class's ongoing support would be able fund a full scholarship to the School.

Millie doesn't see herself as a strategic giver, but a practical one, using an IRA charitable rollover and stock giving to support Westminster. "Even with a small IRA, it's a great vehicle, because otherwise you have to pay so much in taxes. It's the same with stock," Millie says. It just plain makes sense." When you give through your IRA, you don't pay taxes on the distribution and you decrease your annual income. It's a simple way to support organizations important to you while benefiting from the tax savings.

One of the things Millie treasures most about her time at Westminster is that the School set her on a lifelong personal journey to search for wonder in its many forms.

"So much has changed since the '50s, but thank goodness Westminster remains and the wonder continues to be taught, to be experienced, to be shared, and to flourish, then and now."

Like Millie's support, your gift can make a life-changing difference at Westminster. Contact Lauren Flores at 404-609-6438 or [email protected] to learn more.