Meet the Linnenbringers
“So many of us take the resources of the Earth for granted. We expect we will have food to eat and clean water to drink. Unfortunately, our planet does not have an unlimited supply, and this is causing inequality, poverty, and misery around the world,” says Christine “Chris” Linnenbringer. She’s been asked to explain why she and her husband Bill support the Danforth Center.
Christine and William Linnenbringer have chosen to create a legacy of hope at the Danforth Center.
A Family History
Donors since 2011, the Linnenbringers joined the Danforth Society in 2019, and then in 2022, they opted to become part of the WHD Legacy Society by making a planned gift. The society, named in honor of the Danforth Center’s founding chair, Dr. William H. Danforth, has a special meaning for the Linnenbringers, as their involvement with the Danforth family spans decades.
A New Vision
After receiving a copy of I Dare You by Dr. Danforth’s grandfather for his high school graduation, Bill Linnenbringer went on to build a career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he had business with the Danforth family. Later, when their son entered Washington University in St. Louis, the Linnenbringers came to admire Chancellor Danforth even more. When they learned about the plant science center, they knew they wanted to be a part of “Bill Danforth’s vision.”
Global and Local
“We want to support organizations that benefit the St. Louis area as well as make an impact on some of the world’s most critical issues,” says Bill. Adds Chris: “We wholeheartedly support the mission of the Danforth Center. The need for research is urgent in order to escape an impoverished and destructive future for humanity.”
You Can Make a Difference
There are many ways to get involved at the Danforth Center. Visit danforthcenter.org/get-involved to learn more.
About
A version of this story originally appeared in the Leaflet, the free newsletter of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Sign up to receive more stories like this straight to your inbox.