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Eye of the Needle

Seaver Alumna Helps the Nation's
Wealthiest Give Wings to Their Riches

By Jerry Derloshon

Claudia B. Sangster, director of philanthropy services at myCFO, helps the nation's wealthiest individuals and families change the world for the better by advising them on philanthropic opportunities. If she asks you to pinch her, it is because she sometimes feels she is living a dream.

A 1976 summa cum laude graduate of Seaver College, Sangster earned her doctor of jurisprudence (J.D.) degree magna cum laude from University of Houston College of Law in 1981. Prior to joining myCFO, she was senior counsel and director for estate and gift planning at Pepperdine. Previous to that she held increasingly responsible positions at three prestigious law firms in Houston, Texas, handling estate planning, trust, and probate matters.

Sangster is a member of American Bar Association, State Bar of California, and State Bar of Texas. She is also a member of Los Angeles Bar Association—Probate Section and was president of Planned Giving Round Table of Southern California in 2001.

Of all her associations, she said that being a member of the Associated Women for Pepperdine (president, 1997-2000) and current board member, gives her the greatest satisfaction. With her office relatively close by in Century City, Sangster is able to stay connected to what she describes as an "empowering and loving" group of women.

Catchy speech titles such as "Do You See Lemons or Lemonade? Difficult Gifts" and "Getting from Curious to Smart: Philanthropy that Makes a Difference"—along with well-honed presentation skills—have made her a much sought-after national speaker on the subject of philanthropy, personal giving, and family philanthropy.

At home, she and her husband, Chris (Seaver College, 1975), enjoy their three-decade long association with the University. They met at Pepperdine the day the Malibu campus opened. He is assistant dean of alumni relations and advancement for Seaver College and George Pepperdine College. They were married in Stauffer Chapel in 1976, and regard the Pepperdine community as family.

This story will appear in the upcoming Pepperdine Voice Magazine, Fall 2004.