Generous Family Legacy Gift Earns the Father Jacques Francois Dujarié Award for Its Impact

Sometimes a donation comes at just the right time to be transformational. This was true of a recent gift to the Sisters of Providence from the Birgen family. The family received the Father Jacques Francois Dujarié Award for their significant gift, which offered a large boost to the Sisters of Providence retirement fund.

Virgil and Donna Birgen married in Ohio in 1954. Soon after, they returned to Southern California. There they raised seven children: Judy, Bob, Kathy, Susie, Ben, Bill and Brian.

Donna’s father had believed that every working man needed a second source of income. Virgil agreed. So, in addition to his job with Chevron, he invested in real estate. He and Donna purchased several apartment complexes and did renovation work themselves. This investment ensured that their children could attend Catholic high school. It also instilled in them a strong work ethic. Over the years, the family worked together to make this business a success. In later years, the apartment complexes sold and the proceeds were used to create the charitable remainder trust that provided the life-changing gift to the Sisters of Providence.

Family was a top priority for the Birgens. Virgil and Donna were devoted to their children. Their hard work in providing for them was accompanied by adventure, which included a family hike of the Grand Canyon every 10 years. Their legacy continues through their children’s lives, whose chosen professions include professor, engineers, hospital administrator, inventor, accountant, financial planner, esthetician and rocket scientist.

Virgil and Donna were active, faithful members of the Catholic Church. They were motivated to give to the Sisters of Providence by their love for their daughter, our Sister Judy, as well as the friendships they developed with the Congregation and the tax benefits their generous gift afforded.

The impact of the Birgens’ investments, both financial and otherwise, will benefit this world for years to come.

The Birgen family’s heartfelt faith, dedication and gratitude foster their powerful legacy, which benefits the Sisters of Providence deeply. Contact Cami Pritchett at 812-535-2807 or cpritchett@spsmw.org, to learn more about crafting your legacy, and how it might touch the work of the Sisters of Providence.