Donor Profile | Chuck and Carol van Rossum

“Your generosity is a reminder that there are kind-hearted individuals and organizations devoted to making a difference in the lives of students like me. It motivates me to strive for excellence, and to one day be in a position to pay it forward. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in me and investing in my future.” – Riya, Student Success Scholarship recipient  

Carol van Rossum and her late husband, Chuck, probably never imagined they would make such a momentous difference in the lives of so many young people. 

But thanks to a thoughtful decision to use their named scholarship fund and participate in the Lincoln Community Foundation’s new Student Success Scholarship program – that’s exactly what they are doing. 

“This scholarship fund is close to my heart, it speaks to everything my husband believed in and symbolized,” said Carol. “I was fortunate to talk to him about our estate planning while he was living, and we both wanted our legacy to live on as long as possible…to last in perpetuity.”  

The couple have established several funds through the Lincoln Community Foundation, but the student scholarship is perhaps the most precious to them.  

And though the Charles F. and Carol A. van Rossum Scholarship Fund was created years ago, the Foundation only recently founded the new Student Success Scholarship Fund as a place that existing scholarships – like Carol and Chuck’s – might find a better fit. 

“I never dreamed I would actually see it working, but I’ve been so blessed to see this scholarship in action,” said Carol. “I’ve been lucky enough to read about the students who receive the scholarships, read their thank-you letters. It warms my heart, and I know Chuck would have loved all of this.”  

The couple helped set up criteria for their scholarship, geared toward first-generation graduates who demonstrate community service, financial need and quality academic marks. 

But Carol attributes the couple’s estate planning success to the Lincoln Community Foundation. 

“I would say the biggest plus is that they listened to what we wanted. They didn’t tell us what we should do. We were able to determine where we wanted our resources to go – how our money could match our passions and aspirations.”  

After all, philanthropy runs deep in both their families. 

“My dad was a pilot in World War II and endured a POW camp for nine months after his plane was shot down,” she said. 

He survived and returned home to run the family seed company, but also to serve as a model citizen. 

“He was such a people person, involved in all parts of the community. And he would always give back. I grew up watching his generosity and spirit of giving.” 

Chuck’s mother, meanwhile, had a heart of gold and also gave of herself, Carol said. “Chuck was just like her. He truly never knew a stranger.”  

It’s probably no accident these two spirits came together. 

Carol attended college at Illinois State as a young woman, working to earn an education degree. But a very unexpected and fateful phone call changed her life. 

She explained that her roommate had a boyfriend who would phone from Florida, but on one call another young man got on the phone – claiming he had paid for the call and wanted to talk to someone. Carol was handed the phone and had her first conversation with Chuck van Rossum. 

The rest was history. After letter writing and eventually meeting, the two married in 1972 and since Chuck was enlisted in the Air Force, the family was assigned to places around the world – from Indiana to the Netherlands to Germany to Alaska to Nebraska and Illinois.  

The couple had two children, and eventually Chuck retired from the Air Force to work first at an Illinois university – then in Student Affairs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

“He was a big Husker fan, and we had a sweet spot in our hearts for Nebraska,” said Carol. 

They loved living in Lincoln and, somewhere along the way, began developing an estate plan that included a partnership with the Lincoln Community Foundation. 

“Chuck passed away 10 years ago, but we were lucky to have this discussion while he was still living,” said Carol. “I thought it was important to establish something with Chuck’s name to honor his legacy. What’s more, we really liked this community and found we could leave our contributions to all our favorite causes, everything dear to our hearts.” 

Jump-Starting Student Success 
The Lincoln Community Foundation’s Student Success Scholarship Fund was implemented in 2024 to provide scholarship awards that were renewable, flexible and led to degree completion, according to Trish Reimer, Grants and Scholarship Manager for LCF.    

“We wanted to see how we could use some of our existing scholarship funds in a way that aligned more with our vision statement – to create a community where everyone is thriving, working together, to build a better tomorrow,” said Trish.   

The van Rossum Scholarship fund, along with seven other scholarship funds, partnered to disburse significant awards in 2024, providing five students with amounts up to $5,000 per student – with an opportunity to renew the award for up to four years ($20,000 total).   

“We are so grateful for Carol and Chuck. They epitomize the breadth of tools the Foundation has available for donors that wish to give and demonstrate how they could establish funds that align with their passions,” said Trish. “Their generosity is humbling.”  

If you are interested in helping students pursue their post-secondary education and want to learn more about the Student Success Scholarship Fund, contact Susan Crotteau at 402-474-2345 or susanc@lcf.org.