Through legacy giving, Ron and Mary Beshear are continuing a story of generosity and faith that has been years in the making.

On May 5, 1990, nearly one year after Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) opened its doors, hundreds gathered for the dedication of what is now CHCA’s Founders’ Campus. As the program concluded, voices joined together in singing, “Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.”  

Ron and Mary Beshear were part of the crowd. As one of CHCA’s Founding Families, the song that day wasn’t simply a benediction, it was an ongoing prayer—one that, 35 years later, has been answered time and again.  

During the early years of CHCA, Mary remembers helping their two children memorize the weekly Bible verses. The experience of listening to sweet young voices reciting and singing God’s Word showed her how beautifully a Christian school like CHCA can underscore the godly values a parent desires to teach at home and keep at the forefront of family discussions throughout daily life.  

She says, “At the time, I had been reading Deuteronomy 6:6-7, and I felt overwhelmed by the task of effectively passing our Christian faith to our children when, honestly, our lives felt busy, messy, and sometimes fairly haphazard in modeling the values we held dear. It was refreshing to see how a school built on Biblical principles could partner with families to deepen the faith of children from youth through teen years and beyond. And the unexpected bonus was: we parents grew in Christian maturity, as well.”  

This appreciation for partnership in discipling the next generation resonated with the Beshears and motivated them to support the school beyond tuition and beyond the years when their own children had graduated. Along with financial support, they continue to undergird the school and its mission in grateful prayer.  

“Everybody has a story, and everybody’s story is important,” says Ron. “Part of our story has been to do foundational giving every year. We have been fortunate to be able to give every year of the school’s existence, in addition to legacy giving. We were fortunate to make a transformational gift to help establish the Welcome Center. We also established a scholarship to honor our four parents for the legacy they provided to us. Finally, another opportunity we took advantage of was annual matching gifts from our company as well as substantial recognition from the employer for volunteer service.    

“Legacy giving and planning can help you complete your story. As you get older, you have a deeper appreciation for things that matter. And things that matter are things that, in a transformational way, change your life. Families, individuals, and our community have been changed by CHCA.”  

A Legacy (Gift) in the Making  

Lifelong Christ followers, the Beshears have worked hard over their 57-plus years of marriage to build a life that reflects their values, passions, and faith. That includes establishing a philosophy of giving centered on the belief that “maybe God didn’t bless us so much to raise our standard of living as to raise our level of giving.” This decision has provided incredible opportunities to bless causes the couple cares about with substantial gifts over the years.   

One of the easiest ways they’ve done that, says Ron, is with a legacy gift.  

In the early years, the Beshears made the legacy gift of an insurance policy with CHCA as the beneficiary. “We didn’t really know what was going to happen with CHCA,” says Ron, “but we took a step of faith and made that gift.”  

The gift was more than generosity at work; it was a sacrificial act of worship and discipleship. Under the principle that beliefs drive behavior, the Beshears’ legacy gift was a reminder of their belief in the mission of CHCA—to provide students with an academically excellent education in a Christ-centered environment—and their commitment to seeing lives transformed by the gospel.  

A few years later, they included CHCA in their will. Successive revisions to their estate plan have reflected their values and hopes for their legacy, including their desire to see CHCA thrive well into the future. While planned gifts have the option to be designated for certain programs or aspects of school life, the Beshears have kept their legacy gifts unrestricted, allowing CHCA to use them for the greatest need at the time.  

“There’s a kind of dignity in doing it,” says Ron of legacy giving. “It has a chance of extending beyond your own lifetime. It’s a legacy for you, and it’s a legacy for the institution.”  

Lasting Impact  

The Beshears’ legacy gift is only one way the couple has made an impact at CHCA. As a Founding Family, alum parents, former board members, longtime supporters, and now CHCA grandparents, they’ve been involved in just about every aspect of school life. (When Ron was asked to come back on the Board of Trustees in 2006, he even returned to the classroom for several days to experience CHCA from the student side.) Over the years, they’ve witnessed the tremendous growth of the school geographically, spiritually, and educationally—and they’ve watched their vision come to reality.   

“The fruit is there,” says Ron, “in [students’] lives and how they’re living their lives. They understand effort, working hard, being kind, and having a meaningful faith.”  

His observations echo the personal legacy he and Mary wish to leave behind—one of a good marriage, a good family, and deep faith. In making a legacy gift to CHCA, they’ve aligned their values today with their hopes for tomorrow and are ensuring future generations reap the abundant harvest they’ve worked to grow.   

To those curious about leaving a legacy with a planned gift, they offer this advice: Create a philosophy of giving, follow God’s scriptural instructions for generosity, and surround yourself with people who give joyfully. After all, the Beshears say, “we are stewarding the blessings God has provided to us, and we want to steward those resources wisely both for today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.”