Patty Cress: A Legacy of Living Generously

How Patty Cress is turning a lifetime of giving into a gift that will last forever

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When Patty Cress retired from her career in 1996, she didn’t see it as an ending. She saw it as an opportunity: a chance to give more of herself to the community she and her late husband, Hugh, loved so deeply.

“The day after I retired, Indiana University Southeast announced the Ogle Center was going to open,” Patty recalls with a laugh. “So Hugh and I signed up for the first volunteer class. We thought, well, what better way to spend our time than helping bring something wonderful to this side of the river?”

That decision sparked nearly three decades of active volunteerism across Southern Indiana – a journey defined by service, generosity, and the belief that every person can make a difference in their community.

For Patty and Hugh, giving wasn’t about recognition. It was about connection. Whether welcoming patrons at the Ogle Center, helping students discover fossils at the Falls of the Ohio, or volunteering with Lifespan Resources, they found joy in being part of something larger than themselves.

“Volunteering makes me feel worthwhile,” Patty says. “You meet new people, you learn new things, and you help others see what treasures we have right here in Southern Indiana.”

Finding Joy in “Giving While Living”

Patty’s giving philosophy grew out of those experiences – and out of the life she shared with Hugh.

As longtime educators and lifelong learners, they believed deeply in the power of experiences to shape a person’s life. Hugh, a beloved guidance counselor at Charlestown High School, dedicated his career to helping students find their path. Patty, who later earned her own master’s degree, followed his example.

“After we retired, we decided it was time to step up,” she says. “We talked with our financial advisor and said, ‘We want to do something special.’ That’s when we made our first major contribution, which supported the Ogle Center. It just felt right to invest in something that gave so much back to our community.”

Their support of Southern Indiana’s primary center for performing and visual arts grew into a pattern of “giving while living,” as Patty describes it – the practice of making meaningful gifts during her lifetime so she could see and feel their impact firsthand.

“When you give while you’re living, you see exactly what your support does,” she says. “You get to meet the people, see the programs, and know that your gift is making a difference right now. That’s a joy you just can’t experience later.”

Through the years, Patty and Hugh’s generosity touched nearly every corner of the community – from arts and education to environmental stewardship and senior services. Their involvement with the Falls of the Ohio, in particular, reflected their shared love of learning and discovery. Hugh had explored the fossil beds as a boy, hammer in hand, long before the interpretive center existed. Decades later, the couple helped others experience that same wonder.

“One of our favorite things to do was what we called ‘roving,’” Patty says, smiling. “We’d go down to the Falls, find families or kids exploring on their own, and show them how to spot fossils. We’d carry little kits and water bottles to rinse off the rock so the fossils would appear. Watching those kids’ faces light up – that was magic.”

Turning Memory into Meaning

When Hugh passed away in 2018, Patty carried their shared commitment forward. In his honor, she decided to create a scholarship fund through the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana – a lasting tribute to the guidance counselor who had dedicated his life to helping young people succeed.

“I wanted something that would keep helping students long after I’m gone,” she explains. “Hugh believed in every kid who walked through his office door. He wanted them to know that education could change their life. This scholarship is my way of keeping that spirit alive.”

Through a bequest which will activate following her passing, Patty’s planned gift will establish the Hugh Cress Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will support students pursuing higher education. The fund will also continue the work Hugh started decades ago at Charlestown High School.

For Patty, partnering with the Community Foundation made the process simple and meaningful.

“The Foundation helps people do good in a way that lasts,” she says. “They understand that giving isn’t one-size-fits-all – it’s personal. They helped me create something that reflects what Hugh cared about most.”

A Legacy for Future Generations

Even as Patty looks toward the future, her focus remains firmly on community. She hopes that her story might inspire others to think about how their own gifts, large or small, can leave a lasting impact.

“So many people think, ‘I’ll give later,’” she says. “But you can start right now. Whether it’s volunteering your time, supporting a cause you care about, or creating something through the Foundation – you can make a difference today and still provide for the future.”

Through her bequest, Patty’s generosity will continue to ripple outward – helping students, strengthening local programs, and enriching the community she and Hugh have called home for a lifetime.

As she reflects on that journey, she doesn’t speak about wealth or legacy in grand terms. Instead, she talks about people – the students who will earn a scholarship in Hugh’s name, the volunteers who will welcome guests to a concert, the families who will discover fossils at the Falls.

“When I see something good happening because of a gift I made, I feel connected,” she says. “That’s what giving really is. It’s a connection. And I think that’s something we all want, deep down: to know we’ve made a difference, and that we’ve left something good behind.”