Linda (Duckworth) Darr ’63 Supports Native American Cross-Cultural Experience Through IRA Beneficiary Designation

Linda (Duckworth) Darr ’63 is a retired teacher living in Indianapolis, Indiana. She made Carroll a percentage beneficiary of her IRA, and her gift will support cross-cultural experience programs exploring Native American cultures.

Linda is passionate about Native American culture. It’s a passion that grew from childhood wilderness outings and was nursed through the years by numerous cultural experiences. Most recently, Linda has volunteered as a docent at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, which houses a significant collection of Native American art.

According to Linda, “Wisconsin is an important region for many Native American tribes,” so she naturally chose to earmark her IRA beneficiary gift to Carroll for cross-cultural experience focused on Native Americans.

Carroll students today undertake dozens of different cross-cultural experience programs. Many focus on native and indigenous peoples. Students can explore native and indigenous peoples in Washington, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Ecuador, or New Zealand through faculty-led, cross-cultural experience programs. Students generally participate in the program during their junior or early senior year. It helps them reflect on intercultural exchange and how culture impacts their future careers and lifelong interests.

Linda made Carroll a percentage beneficiary of her IRA to create her fund for cross-cultural experience. Like many donors, Linda’s retirement savings were one of her most significant assets, so she naturally turned to her IRA to support Carroll. “This is where my money is.” By making Carroll a percentage beneficiary of her IRA, she protected herself and other beneficiaries from a shrinking estate. “I don’t know how much I will need.”

No matter the size of her gift, Linda is excited about its potential for impact. Carroll is excited about it too. Megan Couch, director of global education at Carroll, says that Linda’s gift will help students access a cross-cultural experience that may feel out of reach financially. “Donor funds have been vital to sending our students to multiple destinations. We depend on donors that value intercultural exchange to help grow and expand this program as our student body grows and shifts demographically. We look forward to continuing our work with donors like Linda to benefit the future of our incoming classes of Pioneers.”