Meet Our Donors
Bob and Káren Heinrichs
Bob and Káren Heinrichs both were raised in New Church societies - Bob in Kitchener, Ontario and Káren in Pittsburgh, PA. They have been active in the Church all their lives. After teaching and coaching in Canada for nine years Bob was asked to come to the Academy where he taught in the Boys School before moving full-time to the College. He taught and coached for twenty-one years and Káren was Assistant in the Development Office for thirteen years.
From Bryn Athyn they moved to southwest Colorado where they established a company that designed and produced custom handcrafted log homes. After they sold their business and retired they moved to the Oak Arbor Society in Rochester, Michigan to be closer to their children and grandchildren and a New Church congregation.
Bob has served on local church boards and was a two term member of the General Church Board of Directors serving as chair of the Development Committee. After leaving the board in 2010 he became President of the Bryn Athyn College Alumni Association. He and Káren continue to be involved because it is their way of giving back.
In early 2011 when the IRA Charitable Rollover was put back into law they immediately had money withdrawn from their retirement funds as gifts to the Church, the Secondary Schools and the College. They did it again at the end of the year. In January 2013 the IRA charitable rollover was reenacted into law retroactive for all of 2012 and continuing through 2013. Káren and Bob had the foresight to have money withdrawn at the end of 2012, again as gifts to the Church and Academy schools, as well as, their local congregation. These withdrawals qualified for the retroactive rollover provision. Bob and Káren are able to use their money, tax free, to benefit something they love - the Church and New Church education. And on top of that, since Oak Arbor is part of the Healthy Church Match, their contribution was matched.