Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries and The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia have announced the receipt of a more than $14.5 million bequest that will be split evenly between the two organizations.

The bequests of more than $7.2 million to each organization were made by the late Helen Nicholson Palmer of Wyomissing, Berks County, who died in December 2012. Her husband, Frank R. Palmer, who died in 1992, was the former president and CEO of Carpenter Technology Corp., Wyomissing.

"We are deeply grateful for this bequest and for the forethought Mrs. Palmer exhibited in making such a generous contribution to our services," says Mark T. Pile, Diakon President-CEO. "She had a lifelong commitment to The Lutheran Home at Topton, evident in her unwavering attendance at Topton board meetings."

"Mrs. Palmer's concern that our congregational leaders receive the best training possible is inspiring," says the Rev. Dr. David J. Lose, president of the seminary. "Her gift will make an incredible difference to men and women preparing for ministry and to the congregations they will serve."

Some of the funds received by Diakon will be used to support services for children and families.

A portion of the gift to Diakon will be dedicated for refurbishment of the Old Main building on The Lutheran Home at Topton campus for use as a "permanency center" for adoption and foster care.

The gift to the seminary will be dedicated to completing improvement projects that had been deferred because of finances and to providing support to the academic and scholarship programs.