One day, while sorting through her late father’s possessions, Nancy found herself wondering how to keep his memory alive, to make sure his life and career were not forgotten. Her father, James E. Callaway, started a career in journalism after being a pilot in World War II. He began as a news reporter and anchor in Texas. Later, after working in advertising and public relations he was called to teach. He became a dedicated educator in the field of journalism, teaching at IU Bloomington’s Ernie Pyle Hall School of Journalism from 1962 to 1973. His career became “the start of my Indiana University connection,” Nancy said.
His passion for teaching storytelling and news reporting introduced Nancy to the world of journalism and news at a young age. In their home, importance was paid to language, to the correct definitions of words and the craft of writing. Asking questions about all subjects and pushing to know more was encouraged. Books and dictionaries were big in their home. “My father was a great semanticist, so language became very important to our family and became important to me.”
In fact, Nancy followed in his footsteps, earning a Bachelor of Science in Radio, TV, and Mass Communications from Indiana University in 1972. During her undergraduate studies, she benefited from IU’s world-class education and invaluable experiences she had there. She went on to be the first woman to direct live television news in Indianapolis, in Kansas City and then in Chicago. Her career took her to ABC and CBS Networks in New York where she directed news and special programs. She returned to IU in the late 1990s to be the Station Manager of IU’s WTIU-TV where she produced and directed documentary and special program productions. It was a full circle for Nancy.
So when it was time to pay homage to the influence her dad and IU had on her broadcasting career and that of many others, she decided an estate plan with IU made the most sense. “IU granted me so much,” she said. “And my father gave so much [to this university].”
In 2019, Nancy established the “James E. Callaway Sr. Memorial Scholarship” at The Media School in honor of her father. The main requirement for this scholarship[1] speaks to her father’s legacy for the love of words. “I wanted this scholarship to go to someone who also loves words,” Nancy expressed. And, “I wanted his name to be said every year at IU,” said Nancy. “[Now] people will speak his name.”
Simplifying the planned giving process
Nancy found working with IUF’s planned giving officers a seamless process. “Working with IUF was fabulous! I can’t say enough good things about the Foundation and how this process works.” She appreciated how the giving officers helped her understand the details of the process and the legalities of everything. “I had nothing but support and guidance. It was a great experience.”
Since Nancy had a positive experience establishing her scholarship, she had the confidence to establish other planned gifts with IUF. One being a bequest[2], which adds the scholarship to her will for additional funding in the future. “This creates a legal obligation in my estate to support this scholarship after [I pass].”
Over 70% of Americans pass without establishing a will; one reason is that people are overwhelmed with the execution. Nancy’s advice to future donors is simple: “Just start a conversation. If you reach out to the [giving officers] at the Foundation, they'll help you see that it’s more straightforward than you think.”
Nancy’s life is a powerful reminder of the impact of philanthropy. She’s grateful to have established estate plans with IUF to preserve her father’s legacy and create opportunities for future generations. Despite her accomplished career, Nancy’s proudest moments stem from how her life has contributed to others. She firmly believes that giving back is fundamental to building a stronger community. “We all need to ask ourselves, ‘How much do I need? What can I share with those who need more?’”
“I think it behooves all of us to remember that we’re in this together. None of us succeeds without the help of others.”
