For Kirk
Jarrett, generosity toward Berry College is more than philanthropy — it's a
family tradition. His connection to Berry runs deep.
"My
grandparents went to school there," Jarrett said. "My grandmother actually went
to high school, and my grandfather worked for Miss Berry running the dairy
farms and farming operations. My dad and his siblings even grew up on campus
for a while. So Berry has always been a part of our family."
That legacy
took on new life through Jarrett's daughter, Kate, who was among the first
participants in Berry's Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) program — a
groundbreaking initiative that provides young adults with intellectual
disabilities opportunities to experience college life, gain work experience and
grow in independence.
"Sometimes
it's good to be first," Jarrett said with a smile. "It's been fun to be part of
something that's growing, something that's important not only for us personally
but for the Berry community as a whole. The IPSE program adds something special
to Berry's culture."
Smart way to give
As a CPA and
board member of several foundations, Jarrett is no stranger to financial
strategy. When his family decided they wanted to give back to Berry, a gift of
stock made perfect sense.
"I already
knew how stock gifts worked — the mechanics and the benefits," he said. "For
us, it was a way to make a meaningful gift while being tax efficient. It
allowed us to give without dipping into our cash reserves, and it's a simple
process. Berry makes it easy."
For alumni
and friends who may not have the same financial background, Jarrett emphasized
how straightforward the process really is. "You connect with your financial
planner, connect with the team at Berry, sign your name a few times, and that's
really it. It's not difficult at all."
Beyond the
simplicity, giving stock instead of cash can be a smart financial move. "If you
have investments with appreciated gains," Jarrett explained, "you can donate
the stock directly rather than selling it and paying taxes on the gains,"
Jarrett explained. "It's a tax-efficient way to give, and it helps your
contribution go further."
Building a legacy that lasts
For Jarrett
and his family, supporting Berry's IPSE program wasn't just a one-time
decision. In addition to their initial stock donation, they also established an
endowment to help sustain the program for future students.
"Being able
to endow something means it continues forever," Jarrett said. "It's a small
gift now, but it will continue to grow over time. That's what's exciting —
knowing we're helping to make something lasting."
That sense
of legacy — both personal and institutional — lies at the heart of Jarrett's
giving.
"It's nice
to see something that's part of your family's history continue in a new way,"
he said. "For us, it's about giving back to the place that gave so much to
generations before us and ensuring programs like IPSE have the support they
need to keep growing."
Through his
thoughtful giving, Jarrett shows how the right gift — in this case, the gift of
stock — can create meaningful impact for Berry students today and for years to
come.
